
Transport group PISTON is set to stage another transport strike starting December 14 to demand the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) scrap the December 31 deadline for applying for franchise consolidation.
The franchise consolidation component of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) mandates all operators to surrender individual franchises for consolidation into a single one owned by a cooperative or corporation serving a specific route, a principle the LTFRB calls “one route, one franchise, one operator.”
PISTON argues this scheme leads to monopoly and corporate capture of public transport in the Philippines, as only large, financially viable cooperatives or corporations can comply with the costly modernization standards.
Thousands of small-time operators, representing approximately 80% of all PUV operators, and many drivers face displacement by the end of the year.
“Is this the DOTr and LTFRB’s Christmas gift for us? The loss of livelihood for thousands of drivers and operators? They should be ashamed. Many families will go hungry come New Year’s Day,” said Mody Floranda, PISTON National President.
Besides scrapping the December 31 deadline, the strike also demands the complete removal of the mandatory franchise consolidation and the entire PUVMP.
“What’s stopping Guadiz? One simple Memorandum Circular can scrap the deadline. If they want, we’ll even draft it for him, all he has to do is sign it,” Floranda added.