ILOILO City – Transport groups in the city and province of Iloilo are joining the Sept. 30 nationwide transport strike against the government’s plan to phase out old jeepneys by July 2020. Taxis, vans and even tricycles will also be joining the strike, according to the Alyansa Kontra PUV Phase Out-Panay, a new broad alliance of various transport associations.
The phase out of jeepneys 15 years old or older is part of the government’s transport modernization program which aims to minimize air pollution and improve public transport safety. But according to the alliance, it would economically displace thousands of jeepney drivers, operators and their families.
The transport strike will start at 12:01 a.m. of Sept. 30, according to Edgar Salarda, president of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide – Panay which is a member of Alyansa Kontra PUV Phase Out-Panay.
He projected a “95 percent” participation in the strike, including some 5,000 tricycles of 22 associations.
There are over 6,000 passenger jeepneys in the city and province of Iloilo, he added.
The jeepney started as remodeled army vehicles left behind by US forces after World War II, and became a showcase of Filipino ingenuity and resourcefulness. Mainly patronized by low- to middle-income passengers, it has become the core of Philippine public transport.
Affiliates of Alyansa Kontra PUV Phase Out-Panay in other provinces (Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental) have their own plans, too, said Salarda.
There are an estimated 13,000 passenger jeepneys in Western Visayas.
As part of the protest Monday next week, there will be a caravan around the city culminating in front of the regional offices of the Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro district where a program would be held.
Salarda said transport groups were alarmed by recent government pronouncements about the jeepney phase out. Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade announced that by July 1, 2020 no more old jeepney units would be plying the streets.
“Tugade is also pressing Congress to grant the President emergency powers to quickly address traffic problems. We believe such powers would be used, too, to hasten the phase out of jeepneys. There would be martial law in the transport sector. We won’t be able to complain, even in courts,” said Salarda.
His group believes the phase out would deny the drivers of their livelihood without really resolving the problems such as pollution and traffic that it purportedly seeks to address.
Under the transport modernization plan, jeepney operators have to reportedly buy brand new units only from manufacturers accredited by the Land Transportation Office. Jeepney drivers and operators will also be required to use an “automatic fare collection system” and expensive Global Positioning System.
“This arrangement smacks of opportunism and greed in the guise of transport modernization. The plan is clearly about making money,” said Salarda.
Lowly jeepney operators could not afford to buy modern jeepneys which cost as much as P2.4 million a unit, he stressed.
“This Sept. 30 transport strike is a preparation for much bigger initiatives if jeepney drivers are ignored,” said Salarda.
Alyansa Kontra PUV Phase Out-Panay appealed for public support to the Sept. 30 transport strike.
“Indi lang ini problema sang drivers kag operators, problema ini sang bug-os nga pumoluyo,” said Salarda.
If the government really wants to reduce air pollution, said Salarda, there is an alternative to phasing out old jeepneys – requiring operators to overhaul their engines and closely monitor if this is being complied.
Even jeepney mechanics will be dislocated by the phaseout, said Salarda./PN
