For nearly a decade of fake transportation modernization program, conditions of drivers and commuters in the country have sharply worsened. The Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), formerly Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program or “jeepney phaseout,” removed over 180,000 jeeps from the streets and took away the livelihood of roughly 500,000 drivers and operators. Millions of commuters were tormented and suffered from higher fares and vehicle shortages.

In the face of this situation, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston, or Unity of Drivers’ and Operators’ Associations Nationwide) conducted successive mass filings or simultaneous document submissions to the Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board calling for the restoration of individual franchises for traditional jeeps. They took advantage of the agency’s individual provisional authority (IPA) or temporary franchise, first offered in 2021 to address public vehicle shortages in many routes. Though provisional, Piston considers it a major step toward restoring the 5-year individual franchises. At the same time, Piston urged the “mass withdrawal” of drivers and operators from consolidated franchises.

The group firmly asserted that franchise consolidation means “monopoly, seizure, and destruction” of livelihoods of individual drivers and operators. The mass closure of cooperatives due to deep debts and early breakdown of “modern vehicles” prove this.

Condor-Piston exposed the corruption system in Albay where fake cooperative leaders pocket ₱100,000-₱200,000 commissions for each “modern” vehicle purchased. The leader borrows from the bank, but “cooperative” members pay it. The Marcos regime and its agencies encourage this practice.

Baguio City drivers are deep in debt having been forced to buy imported vehicles at ₱3.3 million each, and pay ₱33,000 monthly installments. Piston-Metro Baguio said this is a death sentence for small operators’ livelihoods and favors foreign suppliers and big corporations. High fees could push fares up to ₱50 per trip.

National struggle

Many drivers and operators in National Capital Region, Cordillera, Panay, and Bicol continue to file en masse to secure provisional individual authority and registration.

Drivers and operators in Metro Baguio have united to expose corruption in cooperatives, corporations, and associations. They revealed irregularities like lack of genuine elections of leaders, excessive membership and other fees, excessive leadership control, and no dividends or fair profit shares. There is also lack of transparency and anomalous money handling that drown drivers and operators in debt and suffering.

Drivers in Iloilo and Guimaras simultaneously filed documents for temporary franchises on February 12. They also called to junk the undemocratic, pro-business, and destructive Local Public Transport Route Plan of Iloilo City and Provincial Public Transport Route Plan of Iloilo Province. Prior to this, over 30 organizations, both consolidated and non-consolidated, under No To PUV Phaseout Coalition Iloilo and Guimaras gathered on January 31. Consumers and passengers also protested against vehicle shortages in Iloilo City on February 16.

Condor-Piston Bicol members in Albay and Sorsogon gathered on February 8 to set mass filing by drivers and operators from various Albay districts. Sorsogon drivers attended and shared their added problems tied to anomalous Local Public Transport Route Plan. They said new routes lacked consultation and the process is riddled with corruption.

Piston explained that their push for provisional authority and registration is based on the fight to restore the right to individual franchises. Individual drivers and operators undergo registration to demand the state to give back their right to livelihood and decent lives.