LTFRB seeks dialogue with PISTON amid transport strike threat

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Thursday urged transport group PISTON to discuss their concerns with the agency first before launching a drastic action like the two-day transport strike it is planning for January.

Interviewed on News To Go, LTFRB executive director Samuel Jardin said a dialogue will enable the two parties to come up with a solution that will benefit everyone, especially the riding public.

“Bago gagawa ng ganyang klaseng activity, kailangan pag-usapan muna ito at hahanap tayo ng paraan para lahat makinabang,” Jardin said, in reaction to PISTON's threat of a two-day strike in January.

PISTON leader George San Mateo said the strike is their answer to the government's jeepney modernization program, which he said will disenfranchise many jeepney drivers and operators.

Under the modernization program, operators are required to replace their old jeepneys with brand new units that are Euro 4 emission standard compliant which costs around P2 million each.

“Hindi makakayanan ng mga maliliit na operator yung napakamamahal na mga unit na gusto nilang ipabili sa operators na nagkakahalaga ngayon na P1.9 million to P2.3 million,” San Mateo said in separate interview on News To Go.

San Mateo suggested that the government allows old jeepneys that will pass emission standard to operate, but Jardin claimed that all old units cannot pass the Euro 4 emission standard.

“Sa Euro 4 compliance, wala. Hindi sila papasa,” Jardin said, adding Euro 4 emission standard compliant units can reduce pollution by 45 percent.

PISTON also condemned the March 18 deadline on franchise consolidation obliging jeepney operators to form corporation or cooperatives.

Jardin explained that the corporations and cooperatives can be granted with tax exemptions, which can help them afford the expensive new units.

“Kailangan nilang mag-consolidate kasi halimbawa naging cooperative sila, maraming benepisyo ang kooperatiba,” Jardin said. “Halimbawa bibili sila ng makina abroad, may mga tax emptions naman so nakakatulong.”

The new unit of jeepney is 24 seater which means bigger income for operators, Jardin added. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News