Transport group PISTON joined the Makabayan bloc on Thursday in filing a House resolution calling for the repeal of the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) and the deferment of the December 31, 2023 deadline for the application of franchise consolidation. The OFG, or the DOTr Department Order 2017-011, is the policy being used by the government…
Transport group PISTON urged the government on Monday to include the 31.57 billion peso ($630 million) PUV rehabilitation subsidy in the 2024 national budget. The subsidy, proposed by Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, would be used for the centralized procurement of Euro-5 engines to upgrade about 63,140 traditional PUVs each year for three years,…
PISTON launched a nationwide transport strike on November 20 to 22 to protest the ongoing implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). The strike came ahead of the December 31 deadline for the application for franchise consolidation. THE ISSUES Under the franchise consolidation requirement of the PUVMP, jeepney operators are being forced to…
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)’s failure to respond to the concerns of drivers and operators has bolstered PISTON’s resolve to continue its transport strike against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). The group remains steadfast in its demand to remove the December 31 deadline for franchise consolidation, eliminate the franchise consolidation…
Transport group PISTON has called for a three-day nationwide transport strike starting Monday, November 20, to protest the government’s insistence on the December 31 deadline for the application for franchise consolidation under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). PISTON National President Mody Floranda said the group is dissatisfied with the recent proposed amendments to…