Traffic heavy as transport groups rally vs. jeepney phaseout plan, oil price hikes

Members of the transport groups PISTON and the No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition conducted another rally on Monday to protest the government's jeepney modernization program and other issues.

The rallyists assembled along East Avenue corner NIA Road in Quezon City and marched toward the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office, according to dzBB's Allan Gatus' report on Dobol B sa News TV.

George San Mateo, president of PISTON or Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, said the modernization program will result in thousands of jeepney operators and drivers losing their livelihood.

In a report by GMA News' Saleema Refran on Balitanghali, San Mateo blasted Memorandum Circular 2018-008 or the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, saying it is a shortcut to the modernization program.

Under the circular, individual franchise holders should form a cooperative and have a fleet management. They are also mandated to replace their fleet with Euro-4 utility, solar, or electric vehicles, and are only given one year to comply —  shorter than the three-year transition period of the PUV modernization program.

San Mateo saids this forces the operators to comply so that they can continue to operate on their routes.

A separate report by GMA News' Bam Alegre on Unang Balita said the groups were also protesting the new implementing guidelines of the jeepney phaseout plan as well as the continuous oil price hike.

The protestors are opposing the jeepney phaseout implementation wherein those with individual franchise should form a cooperative and replace their fleet with Euro-4 utility, solar, or electric vehicles within three months.

They also said that since January 2018, oil prices have gone up for a total of P9 per liter.

The protest caused heavy traffic along East Avenue going to EDSA.

The Quezon CIty Police Department (QCPD), Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed personnel to control traffic.

Members of PISTON in the Bicol region held a transport strike in support of the protest. —Maia Tria/KBK, GMA News