LTFRB to offer free rides during Sept 23-24 transport strike

NO TO PUV PHASEOUT / AUGUST 12, 2024
Transport group Piston troop at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) headquarters in East Avenue, Quezon City on August 12, 2024 to call on the agency to not phase out traditional jeepneys. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will deploy “Libreng Sakay” (free ride) vehicles from September 23 to 24 in line with the two-day transport strike organized by two transport groups.

LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said they are ready to assist affected commuters and had already coordinated with relevant government agencies and local government units.

The agency respects the right of drivers and operators to free expression as enshrined in the Constitution, and acknowledges the concerns of the transport sector,” his statement, issued on Sunday, reads.

READ: Transport groups set protests vs modernization until September

“We remain committed to ensuring the commuting public’s access to transportation,” he added.

The LTFRB likewise urged drivers participating in the strike not to cause heavy traffic on major thoroughfares.

Transport groups

Transport groups Manibela and Piston continue to oppose the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program and demand the following: junking of forced franchise consolidation; renewal of franchises and registrations for all public utility vehicle (PUV) operators, including those who choose not to consolidate; redirecting funds for the phaseout programs to the rehabilitation of traditional jeepneys and subsidies for local industries; and allowing the withdrawal of those who have made franchise consolidation.

Senate President Francis Escudero recently met with Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Jesus Ferdinand Ortega to make sure the PTMP has minimal impacts on drivers and operators.

“We are all for organizing and modernizing the operations of our PUVs but we should also exert all efforts to include every driver and operator who have relied on jeepneys as their sources of livelihood,” Escudero said in a statement.

Fajardo said that while the government fully respects the right to protest, Manibela and Piston must also recognize the right of other transport operators and drivers to ply their routes.

“We are always ready and our police forces are always on standby,” she said. Christopher Lloyd Caliwan of PNA / Faith Argosino