By JEN BAYLON

Several transport groups in Bacolod City will participate in the nationwide transport strike today to protest against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.

Rudy Catedral, Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers Inc. (BACOD) president, said the group will join the strike, in response to the calls from national transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) and Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) over the impending franchise consolidation deadline on April 30.

Catedral said around 500 traditional jeepney units will participate in their caravan from the city’s Barangay Alijis to the Old City Hall at 2:00 p.m. today.

He said the PUV modernization program should not be a threat to the livelihood of traditional jeepney drivers and operators.

The BACOD president also encouraged those affected by the modernization program to participate in the strike.

He expressed hopes that the conduct of the strike will show that some local groups oppose the PUV modernization program.

Under the modernization program, traditional PUV operators are required to form cooperatives or corporations to gain access to business financing and acquire modernized jeepney units.

Traditional jeepneys will be replaced with modernized vehicles compliant with Euro 4 engines as part of efforts to reduce air pollution.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said the deadline for the consolidation would no longer be extended.

Failure to consolidate will result in the revocation of non-compliant PUV operators’ franchises, barring them from operating.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board reported that 80 percent of PUVs across the country have already complied with the policy./JB, WDJ