Unconsolidated jeepney operators will get another chance to join the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
In an interview with the media, LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the agency is set to come out with a new resolution that will reopen the consolidation application process for those who failed to make the previous deadlines.
This development comes days after Guadiz and other transportation officials met with Senate President Francis Escudero, who was among the senators who called for the suspension of the PTMP until the concerns of stakeholders are addressed.
“Ang apprehension [ng senators] is ‘yung mga maiiwanan sa programa, kawawa naman sila, wala silang panghanapbuhay. Pero ang naging concession is bubuksan namin ulit … They cannot form a cooperative but they will be asked to join existing cooperatives,” said Guadiz.
“With this suggestion, and sumang-ayon naman po kami. I don’t think may dahilan pa ang Senado para suspendihin po ‘yung programa,” he added.
According to Guadiz, the LTFRB is considering giving unconsolidated operators about 60 more days to comply.
He urged them to grab this opportunity instead of continuing with their protest.
“‘Pag hindi ka sumama sa programa ng gobyerno for industry consolidation, you will not be able to avail of the other programs. ‘Yung sa libreng sakay o service contracting … hindi ka rin makakakuha ng ayuda para sa fuel subsidy,” noted Guadiz.
Transport groups Piston and Manibela will again join forces for another two-day transport strike beginning on Monday, September 23.
They made the announcement after marching to the LTFRB office in Quezon City on Friday morning, September 20, unfazed by the significant police presence by the gate.
“Itong gaganapin na tigil-pasada, pararamdam talaga natin sa kanila na hindi kami natitinag. Hindi kami nawawalan ng pag-asa dahil kabuhayan at kalam ng sikmura ng aming mga pamilya ang pinaglalaban namin dito,” said Manibela Chairman Mar Valbuena.
During the program, Piston national president Mody Floranda also laid down their demands from the government.
“Payagan tayong ibalik sa limang taon ang ating prangkisa, payagan tayong makapagrehistro, payagan tayong makapagserbisyo sa mga mamamayan,” he asserted.
They estimate that about 90,000 will join the nationwide transport strike.
Jeepney operator Maria Dipus, who came all the way from Iloilo province, is among those who will participate even if she has already consolidated her two units.
It has been four years since she joined a local cooperative but she said that she has yet to receive any compensation for her service.
“Ang promise po sa amin ay meron kaming P15,000 a month as long as sumunod kami sa programa pero ito’y hindi nag-materialize … Ako po ay single mother. Hindi ko na po maitaguyod ‘yung aking bunsong anak para mapagpatuloy ang kanyang pagkolehiyo,” cried Dipus.
In response, the LTFRB vowed to have a more active participation in addressing such internal conflicts among cooperatives, along with the Office of Transportation Cooperatives and the Cooperative Development Authority.
“Kami na po mismo ang makikialam doon. I think this is very prominent in Region 6,” said Guadiz.
Meanwhile, Guadiz said the Department of Transportation is also seeking the help of congress in increasing the budget for the PTMP, particularly the equity subsidy funds for cooperatives and corporations that will acquire modern jeepneys. (ABS-CBN News)