Members of Piston on August 20, 2024 stage a protest in front of the SC Main Building in Manila, pressing for the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the Public Transport Modernization Program. —Photo courtesy of Luisa Cabato
MANILA, Philippines — Members of the transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) once again urged the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
Around 30 members of Piston staged a protest in front of the SC Main Building in Manila on Tuesday, pressing for the issuance of the TRO.
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In their petition filed in December 2023, the group requested the High Court to examine the constitutionality of the various orders issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) regarding the PTMP.
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According to them, the issuances of the DOTr and LTFRB violate the constitutional right to freedom of association, and the voluntary nature of a cooperative under Republic Act 9250 or the Cooperative Code.
“While they are reviewing Piston’s petition, they should first issue a TRO,” Jason Fahilagutan, president of Piston members from Paranaque City, told reporters on the sidelines of the protest.
He also thanked the 22 senators who signed a petition calling for the review of the program.
“Although that would be in our favor, President BBM [Bongbong Marcos] is really firm, and he genuinely wants to implement modernization,” Fahilagutan said, referring to Marcos’ statement last August 8 backing the PTMP.
“As some senators have said, this needs to be studied, and the DOTr and LTFRB should follow this. So, for the 80 percent they say are ready to modernize, let them proceed, but allow the remaining 20 percent to continue earning a living and serving the passengers,” he added.
This is the fifth time that Piston held a protest in front of the SC to urge for the issuance of TRO.