LTFRB refuses to listen to plight of PUV operators, drivers — ACTO, PISTON

Transport group leaders on Monday claimed that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) does not listen to the concerns of operators and drivers as the agency pushes for "anti-poor" provisions in the PUV modernization program.

"Sarado ang ahensya ng LTFRB na pakinggan 'yung kahilingan ng mga driver at operator... Hindi po kami tutol sa usapin ng modernization program pero mariin po naming kinukundena dito 'yung pamamaraan ng kanilang pagmo-modernize," Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) president Mody Floranda said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Tahasan na kaming tatanggalan ng mga indibidwal na prangkisa para pahawakan sa malalaking korporasyon at malalaking negosyante. Sila na lang ang mag-aari ng moda ng transportasyon dito sa ating bansa," he added.

Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) president Efren De Luna reiterated the same sentiment in a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"'Yung ibang uri ng kalakaran na laman ng PUV modernization ay hindi po angkop dito sa amin dahil kapag ipinatupad, malinaw na malinaw na hindi kami papasa. Mawawalan kami ng hanapbuhay, 'yan po ay lumalabas na anti-poor," De Luna said.

He also belied the claim of LTFRB chairperson Martin Delgra III that dialogues are ongoing to let the stakeholders' concerns be heard.

"Sinungaling 'yang si Delgra dahil mismong sa opisina niya hindi marunong magpapasok 'yan at makipag-usap eh," De Luna said.

"Wala namang mga dialogue eh, kinukuha niya lang 'yung mga attendance tapos 'yung kanila lamang gusto ang maa-ano, hindi man lang kami pinakikinggan," he added.

De Luna said that LTFRB warned them that franchise of jeepneys 15 years and older will be "washed out" in July 2020.

Meanwhile, Floranda claimed that before Monday noon, traffic flow in CAMANAVA, Novaliches, Alabang, Rizal, Pasig, and Alabang, among other areas, had already been paralyzed by the transport strike. — Dona Magsino/RSJ, GMA News