Senate committee set to tackle traditional jeepney phaseout delay

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on public services will discuss the postponement of the traditional jeepney phaseout on Thursday, March 2 in a bid to prevent various groups from mounting a nationwide strike.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the traditional jeepney phaseout is set on June 30.

Various groups are planning to stage a week-long strike starting March 6 to protest the impending phaseout.

“I would gladly — I think that it’s crucial that we hear this as soon as possible,” Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said during Tuesday’s plenary session.

“So, if the minority leader will agree for us — usually there is a three-day rule but we can hear it on Thursday. Hopefully, we can come up with a resolution so that the strike will not push through by Monday next week. Normally, we will have the three-day rule but maybe we can hear it on Thursday,” she added.

No senator objected to Poe’s motion.

Poe delivered a sponsorship speech on Senate Resolution No. 507 during the plenary session.

The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate to strongly urge the LTFRB to postpone the scheduled phaseout.

All senators were made co-authors of the resolution and was adopted by the upper chamber.

gsg/abc