Piston holds picket at SC to seek TRO vs PUV franchise consolidation

Members of transport groups Piston and Manibela call on the Supreme Court on Tuesday (Jan. 24, 2024) to stop the government from implementing the modernization program for public utility vehicles which will see traditional jeepneys being replaced by minibuses.
(File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Jeepney drivers and operators urged the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday to act on their appeal for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

The call was made by transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) through a picket protest held in front of the SC in Manila.

READ: Piston to SC: Stop gov’t orders for jeepney upgrade, Dec 31 deadline

“Wag na sana nating antayin pa na dumami ang mga maliliit na operator na mabaon sa utang dahil napilitang pumasok sa consolidation at sa iba pang hindi makataong pakana ng PUVMP,” said Piston Deputy Secretary General Ruben Baylon, as quoted in a statement.

(Let’s not wait for the small operators to accumulate more debt because they were forced to enter into consolidation and other inhumane schemes of the PUVMP.)

READ: SC asked to speed up verdict on Dec 31 PUV franchise consolidation deadline

“Bawat araw na lumalapit sa deadline ay dagdag pangamba sa mga maralitang tsuper at operator,” Baylon noted.

(As each day draws closer to the deadline, it adds more worry to the poor drivers and operators.)

“Sana maunawaan ito ng Korte at ‘wag na muling payagan pa ang DOTr [Department of Transportation] at LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] na magpataw pa ng mga taning sa kabuhayan namin,” he added.

(I hope the Court understands this and doesn’t allow DOTr and LTFRB to impose further threats to our livelihood.)

Piston and its legal counsel, led by Atty. Neri Colmenares, filed a petition for a TRO in the SC on December 20, 2023.

Eight days later, the group and its legal representatives also filed a supplementary motion to speed up the decision of the SC on the TRO.

However, the high tribunal has yet to issue a decision regarding the petition as of posting time.