‘TIGIL PASADA’ ONCE MORE
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) conducted a meeting yesterday to discuss the impending three-day “Tigil Pasada” ahead of December 31 deadline for PUV consolidation deadline.
According to LTFRB spokesperson Celine Pialago, the meeting was presided over by Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III and joined by members of the Board to tackle the impact of the strike to the transport sector and the riding public.
The LTFRB leadership vows to coordinate with other government agencies and the local government units on ways to provide free rides to the public should the transport strike pushes through.
Earlier, progressive transport Pagkakaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide or PISTON announced a nationwide three-day transport strike.
PISTON leaders set the upcoming strike from November 20 to 23 in a press conference held at the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on Wednesday.e
“The December 31 deadline will automatically take away the livelihood of drivers and operators,” said Piston president Mody Floranda in Filipino. “In the provisions that they have released, they said that we could still consolidate within six months. 12 months to 27 months. But the ultimate goal is to phaseout public transportation.”
Drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys and UV Express units need to consolidate into cooperatives or corporations before the deadline.
Those who fail to do so to will be ordered to stop their operations under the PUV modernization program.
This is in response to the forthcoming phaseout of traditional jeepneys, aligning with the government’s initiative to transition towards modern minibuses that are considered more “environmentally friendly”.
PISTON argued that modern jeepneys are overly costly, potentially burdening operators with significant debt, citing unit costs reaching up to P2.8 million each.
“We encourage all drivers and operators in the whole country to join in the strike to fight for our livelihood and rights. Enough is enough. Welga na!” the group said.
