DOTr’s Bautista ‘very positive’ planned transport strike will not push through

Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista. INQUIRER PHOTO FILE / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday said he is “very positive” that the planned week-long transport strike next week will not push through as the government and transport groups will be able to smooth out the issues.

Bautista said some transport groups had expressed readiness to hold a dialogue with the government to discuss the former’s issues on the implementation of the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

“Siguro pakikiusapan pa rin natin sila na ‘wag ituloy at marami namang mga grupo na sumusuporta sa ating modernization program,” he said in a chance interview in Manila.

(We will still ask them not to continue with the strike since there are also many groups that have expressed support for our modernization program.)

“Ako ay very positive na mapag-uusapan ‘yung issue at hindi mangyayari ‘yung strike next week,” Bautista added.

(I am very positive that we will able to discuss the issues, and the strike next week will no longer push through.)

Various transport groups will stage a weeklong transport strike starting March 6, to contest the impending phaseout of traditional jeepneys.

The groups urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to scrap the June 30, deadline for traditional jeepney operators and drivers to join cooperatives or risk losing their franchises or provisional authorities (PAs).

Bautista said they will also discuss the set deadline for consolidation, saying it is possible that this can be moved.

“Lahat naman pwedeng pag-usapan, pag pinag-uusapan natin ang isang issue, maaaddress natin yan,” he said when asked if the deadline can still be changed.

(We can discuss about it. When we discuss it, we can address it.)

“Of course, very flexibile naman ang ating gobyerno, pakikinggan natin ang mga hinaing ng bawat stakeholder. Possible rin naman,” the transport chief added

(Of course, the government is flexible. We will listen to the concerns to all stakeholders. It is possible that the deadline can be moved.

Bautista earlier asked the transport groups to have a dialogue with the concerned government agencies before staging a strike.

RELATED STORY:

DOTr to transport groups: Let’s talk before planning, staging strike

JPV