FILE PHOTO: Rep. Raoul Manuel in a statement on Wednesday urged the youth to talk to jeepney drivers to know their struggles, especially in the face of the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization plan where old jeepneys may be phased out.—GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel has appealed to students and young people to understand and support the plight of jeepney drivers, as a one-week strike is expected to roll out this coming March 6.
Manuel in a statement on Wednesday also urged the youth to talk to jeepney drivers to know their struggles, especially in the face of the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization plan where old jeepneys may be phased out.
“Kabataang estudyante at manggagawa ang pangunahing nakikinabang sa serbisyo ng mga tsuper. Di natin sila iiwanan. Karapatan nila na ipaglaban ang kanilang kabuhayan sa gitna ng pandemya at matinding inflation,” he said.
(Young students and workers primarily benefit from the service provided by jeepney drivers. Let us not leave them hanging. It is their right to fight for their livelihood in the midst of the crisis ushered in by the pandemic and harsh inflation.)
“Panawagan namin sa kabataan na mangausap ng kapwa driver at commuter para malaman ang tunay na kalagayan at maunawaan ang Jeepney Strike na isasagawa sa darating na March 6,” he added.
(We are calling on the Filipino youth to talk with drivers and commuters so that they would know the true state, and understand why a jeepney strike will be held on March 6.)
As early as Monday, several transport groups have announced a week-long strike to protest the upcoming phaseout of the old and traditional jeepneys — which several drivers still use to ferry passengers and as a means of livelihood.
According to Mar Valbuena, chairperson of transport group Manibela, the strike that would start on Monday next week would be in protest of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Circular Memorandum No. 2023-013, which sets the deadline for the jeepney phaseout on June 30, 2023.
READ: 7-day strike vs jeepney ban set in Metro Manila, regions
READ: Transport group sets week-long strike, hits traditional jeepney phaseout deadline
Over the days, more transport groups vowed to join the week-long strike, adding that the protests would definitely continue.
This has led President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself to appeal to drivers to rethink their planned strike, assuring transport groups that the PUV modernization program would be studied further. The LTFRB also said that the validity of the provisional franchises of traditional jeepneys would now be until December 31, 2023.
READ: Marcos Jr. asks transport groups to rethink planned week-long strike
READ: As strike looms, gov’t moves jeepney franchise deadline
But Manuel believes the whole PUV modernization program is flawed — noting that while they support efforts for safer and more environment-friendly transportation modes, it cannot be solved by forcing drivers to purchase the new version of the jeepneys.
“Nais natin ng modernisasyon tungo sa ligtas, abot-kaya at maayos na sistema ng pampublikong transportasyon. Hindi ito masasagot ng pwersahang pagpapabili ng higit 2.4 milyong halaga ng E-Jeep na binebenta ng mga dayuhang kumpanya sa mga operator,” he said.
(We want a modernization towards a safe, affordable, and orderly system of public transportation. But this won’t be answered by forcing people to buy a P2.4 million E-Jeep sold by foreign companies to jeepney operators.)
“Huwad na modernisasyon ang balak na Jeepney Phaseout ng Duterte admin na ngayon ay pinagpapatuloy ni Marcos Jr.,” he added.
(A fake modernization is the intent of the jeepney phaseout of the Duterte administration which is being continued by Marcos Jr.)
Manuel meanwhile assured jeepney drivers that they will file a resolution seeking for an inquiry regarding the PUV modernization program. —With reports from Mae Anne Bilolo, trainee