Piston jeepney drivers and operators again challenged the DOTr and its secretary Vince Dizon to take concrete steps to stop the bogus transportation modernization program, especially the forced franchise consolidation. It gave the department 10 days to issue a resolution to scrap the program and allow the renewal of 5-year franchises.

“We reminded him that the program’s failure is not a secret: Drivers and operators have been fighting this program for eight years,” the group said. According to them, the department’s refusal to renew many drivers’ individual franchises is destroying their livelihood and harming commuters.

“Every delay in scrapping the program is equivalent to an increasing number of livelihoods damaged and families going hungry,” it said. “Promises and endless reviews are no longer enough.”

Prior to this, Dizon admitted that less than half or only 43% of jeepney franchises have been consolidated. This is contrary to the LTFRB’s initial claims that 86% have already consolidated. Dizon said the latter number only refers to drivers and operators who have submitted papers. The LTFRB previously brandished this rate as proof that consolidation was a “success.”

Piston and other transportation groups have long before been opposing this program. They say many of those who submitted papers were only forced to do so for fear that they would be prevented from plying their routes. In truth, many drivers and operators are against consolidation and are willing to revert to the individual franchise system. Those who consolidated and joined cooperatives struggled to pay for the “modern jeepneys” sold to them and are now deeply in debt.