Protest caravan vs jeepney phase-out held in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY — Jeepney drivers and operators in Iloilo on Monday joined a protest caravan as part of nationwide protest actions against the planned phase-out of jeepneys 15 years and older.

The 30-vehicle caravan led by the Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) and other associations of jeepney drivers and operator started from the public transportation terminal in Barangay Mohon in Arevalo District here before passing similar terminals in Mandurriao and Jaro Districts.

The drivers and operators held a program in front of the Western Visayas office of the Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board before ending the caravan at the Jaro District public plaza.

Edgar Salarda, Piston-Panay coordinator, clarified that they were not against the modernization of public transport as long as this would be shouldered by the government and would not be detrimental small transport operators and drivers.

But he said that under the government’s proposed program, individual small owners would not be allowed to operate jeepneys and only corporation or cooperatives could run a fleet of jeepneys which would cause more than a P1 million each.

“The program is clearly packaged for big transport companies and against small and individual operators and their drivers,” Salarda said.

He said they were hoping that their opposition would be heard and considered during a hearing of the Senate committee on public services which is deliberating the controversial transportation modernization program. /je