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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, October 17, 2017
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ILOILO City – The Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) in Panay Island denied their protest caravan yesterday and the transport strike in other parts of the country were part of a destabilization plot against the Duterte administration.
On the contrary, it is the transport sector that is being destabilized by the government’s anti-driver jeepney phaseout policy, stressed Edgar Salarda, Piston-Panay president.
He was referring to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that aims to improve the fleet of jeepneys plying roads through low-carbon and low-emission vehicle technologies. Jeepney drivers and operators, however, fear this might lead to their displacement.
Salarda criticized Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) member and spokesperson Aileen Lizada and regional director Ma. Joscet Buyco-Abellar for making “unfair” allegations against jeepney drivers.
Piston-Panay and nine associations under it did not join yesterday’s nationwide transport strike and instead opted to hold a caravan to protest the government’s plan to phase out jeepneys 15 years old and older.
“Waay lang gid guro makatan-aw kag makatuon maayo si Atty. Abella sa iya statement,” said Salarda. “Pa-sipsip ‘ya man guro sa national upod sa kay Aileen Lizada.”
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.
The two-day nationwide transport strike enters its second day today. Salarda said Piston-Panay does not have any activities related to it today.
REVIEW PUSHED
Piston national president George San Mateo, on the other hand, said they were seeking a dialogue with President Rodrigo Duterte. Their group wanted the government to put on hold PUVMP and review its guidelines.
“We are asking specifically for a framework that will enable a nationalized, efficient and affordable public transportation system. The government should not modernize public transport in favor of large companies and monopolies as this would lead to the disenfranchisement of jeepney operators and drivers,” said San Mateo said in a television interview.
While Piston welcomed the government’s vision of having environmentally sustainable transport, he said their members do not have the capability to acquire new units to comply with the PUVMP.
“Who does not want modern and environment-friendly jeepneys? The problem is its cost, and you need to have a minimum of 10 units to be granted a franchise. Small operators do not have the capability to maintain that,” said San Mateo.
Under the PUVMP, jeepney units 15 years old and older will be replaced with Euro 4 engines or electrically-powered engines with solar panels for roofs. These will also be equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, a Global Positioning System an Automatic Fare Collection System, speed limiters, dashboard cameras, and Wi-Fi.
Early this year ahead of their counterparts in other regions, Western Visayas transport groups staged two strikes – in Feb. 27 and June 5 and 6 – against the vehicle modernization program.
Salarda said many families will be economically dislocated by the jeepney phaseout. By his group’s estimate, some 24,000 drivers in Panay Island would be displaced.
According to Piston-Panay, the phaseout 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 modernization plan, jeepney operators will reportedly be forced to buy brand new units only from manufacturers accredited by the Land Transportation Office.
“This arrangement smacks of opportunism and greed in the guise of transport modernization. The plan is clearly about making money,” said Salarda.
If the government really wanted 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.
APPEAL FOR SUPPORT
DOTr, meanwhile, sought public support for the PUVMP.
In a joint statement, the department and LTFRB expressed disappointment over Piston’s “refusal to discuss with the government their concerns…and its consistent appeal to public sentiment through false propaganda and misinformation.”
“We hope reason will prevail upon the leadership of Piston and they finally open their doors to discussion for them to truly understand and appreciate the PUVMP,” the statement read.
Members of Piston were present during the consultations for the drafting of the guidelines of the program, it added.
“It was only when the PUV Modernization Program had already taken shape and gained support from transport groups and cooperatives nationwide that Piston disengaged with the government and refused to dialogue.”
DOTr claimed the program has gained the support of major transport groups.
A financial assistance program is also available to jeepney operators and drivers through government financial institutions Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines for the acquisition of new units in compliance with the modernization program. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
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