By Junex Doronio
WHAT’S WRONG with cooperatives?
This question was raised by no other than Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista on Wednesday as he said the government is willing to address the demands of transport groups currently on strike but the formation of transport cooperatives remains “non-negotiable.”
Bautista stressed that the government is open to discussing the demands of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON), but the consolidation requirement for jeepney operators and drivers will remain a key aspect of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
“There were demands and sabi nga namin (we said), we are ready to address all these but one very important issue that sabi namin (we said), non-negotiable ‘yung industry consolidation because we need the players to consolidate to a cooperative or corporation,” the DOTr chief said.
On the other hand, PISTON is demanding that the new vehicles will be granted a five-year franchise.
It also wanted the fast-tracking of the transfer of the franchises should vehicles be sold.
PISTON argued that this then leads to the operators not being granted fuel subsidies even if they already acquired the vehicles.
“‘Yung subsidy na ‘yan ay mababayaran dun sa registered owner and one of the issue daw diyan ay dahil naibenta na sa kanila pero hindi pa nalilipat ay hindi nila makukuha ‘yung fuel subsidy,” Bautista retorted.
He added: “Actually, halos naman lahat (ng demands pwedeng pagbigyan). Ang kailangan lang, konting oras, pero ang sabi ko ang hindi naman talaga pwedeng pagbigyan is ‘yung ayaw nilang mag-consolidate.”
(ai/mnm)
