Children playing in a jeepney on the shoulder of the road in Maribago district, Lapu-Lapu City, Visayas, in August 2022. (Mainichi/Kaoru Okada)In response to the promotion of the government’s jeepney modernization program, the jeepney operator union has announced a week-long traffic strike starting on March 6. It announced that about 6% of the (PUV) will participate in the strike. Meanwhile, the national jeepney union Piston issued a statement calling for action.
While the government’s projections for the number of strikers are underestimated, President Marcos said he would increase the number of the national police to prepare for unforeseen circumstances during a strike and maintain order on the route. He also directed the establishment of headquarters, led by the Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA), that could be used by the Ministry of Transport and the police at transportation hubs.
With the expected increase in commuter traffic during the strike, the government is also discussing the possibility of temporarily suspending vehicle plate tailing regulations during the period.
In addition to these measures, the government also announced a policy to use 41 police vehicles and 106 vehicles owned by multiple agencies as temporary public transportation. In addition, the MMDA and the Ministry of Transport have persuaded public transportation vehicle associations to postpone the registration deadline for used jeepneys and other cooperatives with the cooperative association for conversion to new vehicles from the original June 30th to December 31st. We are also planning to
On the 1st of this month, the president made a cautious statement regarding the program, saying that modernization is “necessary, but discussion with the jeepney driver group is important for its implementation,” indicating that the implementation of an appropriate program is the key. was
▽ Strike is carried out
In response to the government’s response, the jeepney union “Piston” issued a statement on the 4th, saying, “Just extending the registration deadline is not enough. Private operators will be weeded out by the more powerful LTFRB management body. We also aim to abolish the mandatory union integration system (franchise) itself and withdraw the promotion of modernization.”
The statement also said workers, youth, women, urban poor, commuters and transport workers, who are also supporting sectors such as Piston, will lead the strike under “no coalition to phase out PUVs”. I vowed again. He also warned that the management system being promoted by the government through the Comprehensive Franchise Guidance (OFG) would “displace thousands of drivers and operators and worsen working conditions.”
The jeepney modernization program, which also aims to introduce electric vehicles, has been promoted under the former Duterte administration. policy was taken. However, there was also strong opposition from second-hand jeepney operators, and even before the coronavirus, the number of jeepneys was decreasing, but the old jeepney service was once again allowed. (Kaoru Okada)
