By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Stressing that they only want the government to primarily support the local manufacturers of modern jeepneys, transport groups Piston and Manibela will kick off their protest actions at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Quezon City and Mendiola in Manila on the first day of their two-day transport strike on Monday (15 April 2024,).
“Ang isang pinaka-ano niyan, sinasabi nila pag-aaralan nila, ngayon pa lang lumalabas ‘yung pagpayag nila sa local (manufacturers of jeepney)…ang isang malaking problema, wala naman silang inilalabas na Executive Order na Philippine Standard Compliance,” Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) national president Mody Floranda said in a radio interview.
The Piston president reiterated that they are not against modernization of PUVs but are against some of the regulations of the government’s PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP).
He cited the franchises, ownership of new vehicles, the companies where the said vehicles will be bought from and the structure of the cooperatives they are being required to join in order for them to continue operating.
“Sa atin ay malinaw ‘yung ating posisyon na mas dapat ‘yung mga local (manufacturers) ang suportahan ng gobyerno,” Floranda further said.
He disclosed that Piston and the Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) will assemble along U.P. Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City in the morning.
From there, the groups will proceed via caravan to the main office of the LTFRB at East Avenue at around 1 p.m.
(el Amigo/MNM)
