By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Dubbed the “court of last resort,” various transport groups, including those from as far as Negros Island, trooped to the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday (23 Jan 2024) in time for its en banc session to call for the immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order against the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
Piston national president Mody Floranda expressed hope that the High Tribunal would issue a TRO before the end of January.
“Wala namang operator na gustong maging colorum yung kanilang mga sasakyan. Una, hindi pinapayagan ng LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) na mag-renew ng kanilang PA o temporary permit to operate,” Floranda said.
For his part, Manibela president Mar Valbuena said the government should focus on helping their sector.
“Itong gobyerno natin dapat pangalagaan niya yung mamamayan niya na huwag mawalan ng hanapbuhay. Kabaligtaran po ang ginagawa, tinatanggalan niya ng kabuhayan yung mga drivers at operators na mga kasamahan po natin,” Valbuena lamented.
Lilian Sembrano, chairwoman of the transport group KABACOD Negros, also aired solidarity with the transport groups in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Lumuwas kami talaga dito, para makita ng Korte Suprema na hindi lang yung Metro Manila o NCR yung apektado,” Sembrano quipped.
It’s no retreat, no surrender for Piston and Floranda disclosed that they would mount another transport protest and were just finalizing its exact date.
As an act of defiance, Floranda said Piston members would continue plying their regular routes on February 1, despite a stern warning from regulators that all unconsolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJs) would be deemed “colorum” and apprehended.
(el Amigo/MNM)
