MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III appealed on Thursday to a transport group to stop its planned strike.
Guadiz made the call to Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston).
“Una po kami ay umaapela sa Piston na hanggang maaari po ay ‘wag na sana nilang ituloy ang balak na mag-transport strike,” he said in a press conference.
(First, we appeal to Piston for them, as much as possible, not to push through with its planned transport strike.)
“Unang-una po, ito po ay salungat sa kanilang usapan sa gobyerno na ang prangkisa po ay isang pribilehiyo,” he explained.
(First, it is contrary to their agreement with the government that a franchise is a privilege.)
“Pag tinuloy nila ito, posible na mawalan sila ng prangkisa or masuspendido ang kanilang prangkisa,” the LTFRB head warned.
(If they go on with this, it is possible for them to lose their franchise or their franchise will be suspended.)
On Wednesday, Piston said it would hold a four-day transport strike starting November 20 (Monday) until November 23 (Thursday).
The shutdown is meant to protest the deadline for the ‘consolidation’ of public utility jeepneys set on December 31.
Guadiz had told jeepney drivers and operators to form cooperatives or corporations by the end of the year to facilitate the government’s implementation of the modernization program.
“Ang hinihiling lang sana po namin sa kanila ay mag-consolidate po sila o bumuo sila ng isang kooperatiba o isang korporasyon by December 31 po, dahil base sa pag-aaral ng ating pamahalaan, para magkaroon ng isang effective na modernization program,” he said.
(What we request is that they consolidate or form one cooperative or corporation by December 31, because based on the government’s study, to have an effective modernization program.)
“Dapat po ay mayroon kayong consolidated unit po,” he told operators and drivers.
(You must have a consolidated unit.)
“Ibig sabihin, sama-sama po sa isang ruta ang mga drayber at operator para mas efficient po ang delivery ng public service,” he said.
(This means, all drivers and operators are in one route for efficient delivery of public service.)
Guadiz added there is no need to replace the jeepneys as long as the vehicles are still roadworthy.
“Hindi nyo po kailangang palitan ang inyong sasakyan. Kailangan lang itong maging roadworthy,” he pointed out.
(There is no need to replace your vehicles. The units just need to be roadworthy.)
“Ano po ang roadworthy? ‘Pag ito ay pumasa sa standards ng LTO,” he said.
(What is roadworthy? If it passes the standards of LTO.)
According to the LTFRB on Thursday, 61.90 percent of routes in the country have been consolidated, while 56.57 percent of units have been consolidated as of October 31.