PISTON to launch protests at LTFRB offices nationwide

Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) on Sunday said that it will launch nationwide demonstrations next week to protest the government's public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

A Super Radyo dzBB report said the demonstrations will be held in front of the offices of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board nationwide on January 24.

PISTON said they will also condemn the filing of charges against its national president, George San Mateo.

San Mateo was arrested early December last year on charges for violation of Section 20 (k) of the The Public Service Act.

The transport group leader is out on bail.

The radio report, meanwhile, said that according to San Mateo, the protest action set next week is not a transport strike.

The report said PISTON is also appealing to the government to grant jeepneys a P6 per liter fuel discount in line with the newly-implemented Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Phaseout to continue

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada, meanwhile, reiterated that the agency is open to holding a dialogue with PISTON regarding its opposition to the government's PUV modernization program.

"Open kami sa dialogue na regarding nitong modernization program na kanilang ino-object, matagal na rin kaming open at parati naming sinasabi na sana naman gawin na ni George 'yong tama at kausapin naman kami at hindi idaan sa ganitong klaseng mga rally. Namemerwisyo lang sila ng mga tao dito," she said.

"Ang modernization ng public utility jeepney ang pinakamakataong proyekto na ginagawa, more or less 30 government agencies ay pinagsamasama para tulungan ang mga public utility jeepney operators na makatawid sa transition period na three years," she added.

She added that the "Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok" campaign of the government against dilapidated and smoke-belching public utility vehicles will continue despite the appeal of PISTON.

"Regarding yung request nila na itigil yung 'Tanggal Usok' at dalawin na lang, bisitahin sila sa kanilang mga terminal, marami hong jeepney na walang terminal, marami hong mga single operator na sa daan lang nagpaparada. Itong project na ito ay spearheaded ng LTO (Land Transportation Office) at ng Task Force Alamid. Random ho na tsine-check ang daanan," Lizada said.

"Tuloy ho ang Tanggal Usok, Tanggal Bulok' na proyekto ng gobyerno, matagal na ho itong kailangan gawin, long overdue at kailangan ho natin gawin...Kailangan ilagay natin yung mga karapat dapat lang na mga public utility vehicles on the road. We are slowly paving the way towards modernization," she added. —report from Manny Vargas/Marlly Rome Bondoc/ALG, GMA News