Transport group to stage 2-day strike

Commuters wait for a jeepney ride. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

A coalition of transport groups will stage a two-day strike starting Monday, Sept. 25, to protest the government’s jeepney modernization program.

Jun Magno, head of the Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization (Stop and Go Transport Coalition), said their members were particularly concerned about the loan being offered by the government.

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Under the Department of Transportation’s modernization program, jeepneys older than 15 years will be replaced with electric-powered and Euro-4-compliant vehicles. A loan package of up to P1.6 million will be made available to a jeepney driver who will have to pay P800 a day over seven years.

According to Magno, drivers earn only around P600 a day. This means that they will have to come up with an additinal P200 just to make the daily payments.

He said that rather than replace their jeepneys, the government should focus its efforts on helping them rehabilitate their units.

Two other transport groups, Piston and No to Jeepney Phase-out Coalition, clarified in a Facebook post that their members would not be joining the strike, adding that they would hold a separate mass action next month.

On its website, Stop and Go Coalition lists as members 131 transport groups from the FX/AUV taxi, jeepney and tricycle organizations.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it would field buses to ferry affected commuters. These will be stationed in the following areas, according to Radyo Inquirer:

• Monumento (in front of MCU Hospital southbound)
• SM Marikina, Rizal parade grounds
• HK Sun Plaza Swift
• UP Technohub on Commonwealth Avenue
•  MMDA Parking Lot and Camp Aguinaldo