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BY RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Wednesday, February 8, 2017
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ILOILO City – As an “opening salvo” for upcoming bigger protests, a militant transport group held a protest caravan against the planned passenger jeepney phaseout and oil price hike, among others.
According to Ferdinand Sancio, vice president of the Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) – Metro Iloilo, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) plan of phasing out jeepneys 15 years old and older will be certain without the protest of the transport sector and the riding public.
The protest caravan was held on Monday.
The phaseout is part of DOTr’s plan to solve traffic congestion and air pollution. Sancio, however, said traffic congestion and air pollution were only excuses for the corporatization or privatization of the public transport system in the form of electronic jeepneys (e-jeeps) and the management of a private fleet company.
The Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) joined the caravan.
On the increases of oil prices, Sancio said it affects not only the drivers and jeepney operators but also the public in general.
“It automatically results to fare hikes and price hikes of basic commodities. It is the government’s responsibility to control and solve it,” Sancio stressed.
Also, he said the government must remove the 12 percent VAT to alleviate the effect of the oil price hike.
A driver who asked to be identified only as Jimmy admitted he was driving a jeepney over 15 years old. But phasing it out would displace a lot of drivers, he said.
“Diin na lang namon kwaon ang amon nga kita? Mataas na ang gatong duganagan pa gid. Tapos i-phase out pa gid ang salakyan namon,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, the cancellation of the peace talks on Sunday by President Rodrigo Duterte will make socioeconomic reforms difficult, according to Sancio.
“It is only thru the peace talks that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Communist Party of the Philippines can address the different demands of sectoral groups on issues ranging from genuine agrarian reform to industrialization ” Sancio said./PN
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