[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-desktop-hide=” av-medium-hide=” av-small-hide=” av-mini-hide=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=”]
[/av_textblock]
[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Duterte a ‘tyrant gone mad’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RANIE AZUE
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BACOLOD City – A “tyrant gone mad” was how secretary-general Diego Malacad of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) described President Rodrigo Duterte.
Malacad’s comment came after Duterte jokingly said he will shoot with rubber bullets the public transport drivers and operators protesting against the rollout of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program of the national government.
“Piston (Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide) said they won’t comply,” Duterte said. “Okay, let’s see. I’m preparing the Armed Forces and police to buy rubber bullets, prepare for truncheons.”
According to Malacad, UNDOC and Piston will “never back down” to protect the interest of the transport sector.
Malacad added that they are optimistic that the planned jeepney phaseout will not happen anytime soon because the government is “not yet ready.”
On Dec. 14, hundreds of jeepney drivers and operators held demonstrations in different parts of the country to show their opposition on the planned phasing out of jeepneys that are over 15 years old.
The protesters – mostly members of the Piston – said about 600,000 drivers and 250,000 operators will be affected if the phaseout pushes through.
The modernization program seeks to upgrade PUVs to reduce smoke emissions that cause air pollution./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
