By JEN BAYLON
Public transport in Negros Occidental is not expected to be paralyzed as two local transport groups are not joining the nationwide strike.
Eduardo Asis, secretary general of the Sentrong Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Negros, said they will continue plying the streets amid the three-day strike conducted by several transport groups in protest against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association members will also not join the strike.
Meanwhile, two local transport groups will conduct a two-day transport caravan and protest rally from April 30 to May 1.
United Negros Drivers and Operators Center president Rodolfo Gardoce announced yesterday that they would halt operations for two days, which also coincides with the program’s franchise consolidation deadline on Tuesday, April 30, in response to the calls of national transport groups.
Gardoce said some drivers and operators from various transport groups in Bacolod will hold an encampment in front of the Bacolod City Government Center at dawn on Tuesday.
They will set up rallies on five major streets in Negros Occidental’s Talisay City and Bacolod.
Kabacod Negros Transport Coalition also announced they will conduct a protest rally for two days.
Earlier, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide held a three-day nationwide strike in protest of the April 30 deadline for operators and jeepney drivers to consolidate in compliance with the PUVMP.
They are calling on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. not to push through with the modernization program.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Western Visayas said more than 60 percent of public utility jeepneys in the region have already consolidated.
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, 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./ With reports from GMA Integrated News / JB, WDJ