Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston, or Unity of Drivers’ and Operators’ Associations Nationwide) denounced the Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its ongoing inspections supposedly to determine the “roadworthiness” of jeepney units, which in reality is tantamount to a phase-out. The group’s leaders met with agency officials on February 19 to demand the suspension of inspections.

“Our position: prioritize security of livelihood,” Piston declared. The group said rehabilitation should not be imposed abruptly on operators; the government must first fix its policy and restore the individual franchises of jeepneys.

“The cost of rehabilitation is burdensome for ordinary small operators,” the group said. Drivers shared that a single refurbished (second-hand) tire from a vulcanizing shop can already cost ₱8,000 or more. A full set of tires alone can reach ₱32,000. Along with other requirements, the LTFRB-imposed rehabilitation could raise expenses per jeepney to ₱200,000 or higher.

This forced rehabilitation scheme of their jeepneys is oppressive to operators who receive no government support or subsidy, and still face the threat of the prevailing Public Transport Modernization Program’s phase-out.

The group asserts that the current rehabilitation scheme is “nothing but the continued destruction and seizure of the livelihood of drivers and operators already struggling because of the failure of the Public Transport Modernization Program.” It is merely a continuation of transport supply destruction and the worsening of the transport crisis, they said.