Due to drivers and operators’ relentless protests in Bacolod City, the Sangguniang Panglunsod issued a resolution supporting the suspension of the pro-foreign Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program (now Public Transport Modernization Program or PTMP). This is in line with a Senate resolution pushing for a similar suspension.

The city council’s resolution urged the Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to allow those who did not consolidate their franchises to reclaim their individual 5-year franchise and registration.

This request was among those presented by the United Negros Transport Coalition (UNTC) to the city council on August 28. On that day, the UNTC entered the Bacolod City Government Center and held a surprise and silent rally to confront the city mayor regarding the jeepney phaseout. Since the mayor was out that time, the city council entertained their request. The UNTC is composed of the transportation groups Undoc-Piston, Kabacod Negros Transport Organization (Knetco), and BACOD-Manibela.

“This is proof that militant and collective action can win us the fight to scrap the pro-business and pro-foreign modernization,” Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) said.

On September 2-3, the UNTC, along with Panay drivers groups, held a series of pickets before the LTFRB Region 6 office. The group delivered the Bacolod City local government’s resolution to the LTFRB regional office.

The agency accepted the resolution but drivers and operators said the LTFRB did not seem particularly welcoming. However, the agency was forced to promise to review the resolution.

Amid the success of the collective action of drivers and operators, Piston encouraged all drivers, operators, and commuters to launch similar actions in barangays, city halls, and municipalities to push the local government to align with the people.

“Let’s launch a series of pickets in local governments so that they issue a similar resolution that stops [pro-foreign] modernization and urges the renewal of our individual franchise,” the group said.