Piston pushes for ‘socially-just’ jeepney modernization scheme

Protesting members of the Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) pressed the government on Monday to scrap its existing plan to modernize the country’s so-called King of the Road.

Piston leader George San Mateo insisted that the Duterte administration should discard its present jeepney modernization program to make it “socially-just” for drivers, operators, and the public.

“Ang gusto naming mangyare ay i-junk noong pamahalaan yung kasalukuyang programa at magbuo ulit ng bagong programa,” Mateo asserted. “At kapag bumuo ulit ng bagong programa dapat ay tunay, genuine modernization, sustainable, mass-oriented, at higit sa lahat, socially-just at ang perspective ay patungo dapat sa mass progression.”

Jeepney drivers and operators in Metro Manila gathered at the Welcome Rotunda in Quezon City; and marched towards the Mendiola Peace Arc near Malacañang in Manila.

In December 2017, the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (QCMTC) issued a warrant of arrest against San Mateo in relation to the transport strike led by Piston in February 2017.

READ: Piston leader ordered arrested over transport strike

The QCMTC Branch 43, however, eventually ordered the release of San Mateo after posting bail amounting to P4,000.

READ: QC court orders release of San Mateo after posting bail

San Mateo has clarified that Piston is not against modernization. He, however, believed that the end-result of the jeepney upgrade scheme is the jeepney phase out.      /kga