PISTON to push through with 2-day strike

Transport group PISTON said Tuesday it would push through with a two-day nationwide transport strike this week following President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s announcement that the deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) operators would not be extended.

"Walang malinaw na batayan ang gobyerno para ipagpilitan ang deadline. Lalo lang nila papatayin ang mamamayan," PISTON said in a Facebook statement.

(The government has no clear basis to insist on the deadline. They will only worsen the suffering of the people.)

The group asserted that almost 70% of public utility jeepneys and 60% of UV Express units would no longer be able to travel in NCR due to the transport strike, based on data from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

It added that the local public transport route plan (LPTRP) still needs to be completed, and that most local government units are still not ready for consolidation.

The LPTRP details the route network, mode, and required number of units per mode for delivering public land transport services. It is prepared by local government units and approved by the Department of Transportation/LTFRB.

"'Yung claim na 70% na ang consolidated ay misleading," PISTON said. (The claim that 70% of PUV operators have been consolidated is misleading.)

"'Pag jeeps sa NCR (National Capital Region), 26% pa lang ang consolidated. 'Pag UVE (UV Express), 36% pa lang ang consolidated," it added.

(For jeepneys in the National Capital Region, only 26% have been consolidated. For UVE, only 36% have been consolidated.)

As a result, PISTON said over 60,000 drivers and 25,000 operators face the possibility of becoming unemployed.

Earlier today, President Marcos said it was decided in a meeting with transport officials that there will be no extension of the Dec. 31, 2023 deadline for PUV consolidation.

The President noted that 70% of PUV operators "have already committed to, and consolidated under, the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP)."

"We cannot let the minority cause further delays and affect the majority of the operators, banks, financial institutions, and the public at large," Marcos said.

PISTON asserted that there was no stopping its planned strike on Dec. 14 and 15, now that their ranks have a stronger resolve to launch the protest.

"Dahil sa pahayag ni Marcos Jr, lalong lumakas ang dahilan para ituloy ang welga. Panawagan namin sa lahat ng mga JODA (Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association) at maging sa mga komyuter, sama-sama tayong kumilos at igiit ang pagbabasura sa deadline at sa sapilitang franchise consolidation." it added.

(We have a stronger reason to push through with the strike because of Marcos Jr.'s statement. We call on all JODAs and even commuters to join our call for the scrapping of the deadline and the forced franchise consolidation.) — Sherylin Untalan/ VDV, GMA Integrated News