Alyansa Kontra PUV Phase Out-Panay, a transport group that has expressed its opposition to the government’s planned phase-out of certain public utility vehicles (PUVs), announced they will be joining the nationwide transport strike scheduled for Monday, September 30.

Edgar Salarda from the Panay chapter of transport group, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, said around 95 percent of PUVs, tricycles, taxis, and vans across Iloilo will join the protest.

He said taxis will take part in a caravan, which will include a stop in front of the local Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board offices.

Salarda also lashed out at Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, who previously sought emergency powers to deal with traffic, which the transport group representative likened to “Martial Law sa sector sang transportasyon (Martial Law for the transportation sector).”

However, DOTr has since withdrawn its request for emergency powers.

Meanwhile, Alyansa Kontra PUV Phase Out-Panay urged the public to show support for their cause by staying home on Monday./WDJ