Poe on transport strike: It’s not too late for gov’t officials to listen

THE ROAR OF THE STREETS: Transport groups Manibela and Piston stage a nationwide protest caravan from University Avenue in UP Diliman, Quezon City to Mendiola in Manila on January 16, 2024. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — “It’s not too late for transportation officials to listen to the woes of small drivers and operators.”

Senator Grace Poe had this to say on Monday as transport and labor groups once again launched a nationwide strike to protest against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

READ: Transport, labor groups begin 3-day strike

In a statement, Poe said there are still “unresolved” matters in relation to the jeepney modernization program, particularly in terms of the “price of the vehicle, source of funding, and routes.”

“Wala namang tsuper ang ayaw magkaroon ng bagong jeepney na aircon, mas bago at environment-friendly.  Pero kakayanin bang bayaran ang jeepney na higit isang milyon ang halaga?,” said Poe, chairperson of the Senate’s panel on public services.

(No drivers would say no to new and environment-friendly jeepney units with aircon. But would they be able to pay for it if it costs more than P1 million?)

Poe warned that there could be a scarcity of jeepneys should cooperatives and corporations fail to avail themselves of enough units. Then, she questioned whether all “current routes” would be covered by modern jeeps.

“Hindi madaling mag-strike — may pangambang kasuhan, walang kitang iuuwi sa pamilya, makakaabala sa ating mga pasahero,” she emphasized.

(It’s not easy to conduct a strike; there are fears of charges, they could bring no money to their families, and it could also burden daily commuters.)

Transport groups have been calling for the complete disposal of the franchise consolidation requirement as well as the controversial PUVMP.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., however, maintained that no driver would “lose their job and livelihood” under the government’s PUV modernization plan.