The drivers called the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Marcos regime cowards for their refusal to admit that they are backing down amid massive drivers’ strikes in 2024.

“The truth is: it was our protests and strikes that forced them to allow a limited number of unconsolidated to continue plying,” Piston said on July 15.

The group recently learned that the LTFRB treacherously hid a resolution, issued last April, which allowed unconsolidated jeepneys to ply their routes even after the deadline for consolidation has expired.

“After the April 30 deadline, the entire month of May the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation (DoTr) threatened to apprehend those who did not consolidate: (saying) the operator will be fined P50,000, the vehicle will be impounded, and the driver’s license will be suspended,” according to an advisory issued by Piston on July 14. Despite this, members of Piston and Manibela, as well as hundreds of drivers with unconsolidated franchises, demanded for their right to their livelihood.

“Not even once have they been able to conduct apprehension operations because they know the resistance of the people is strong,” the group said.

Unbeknown to the drivers, the LTFRB issued the Board Resolution 53 s2024 providing that operators who are on routes with low consolidation do not need to consolidate. This was done on April 30, while drivers were in the midst of theie camp-out protest in Liwasang Bonifacio.

“But the LTFRB and the Marcos Jr. government did not announce it,” Piston said. “Instead, they continuously threatened to apprehend the drivers and operators. It is clear that the LTFRB, DOTr, and the Marcos Jr. government deliberately hid this!”

“This shows that with militant and collective action, we can win the fight against foreign and big business modernization,” Piston stated.

The main content of the resolution allows non-consolidated jeepneys to ply routes with a low level of consolidation. A copy of such resolution will grant jeepneys and PUVs “authority to operate” until the vehicle units are registered and insured.

Piston’s data says 244 routes in NCR do not need to be consolidated. In the Cordillera, 669 routes are no longer forced to consolidate. The list of routes across the country to which forced consolidation is no longer applicable is on page 57 attached to Board Resolution 53.

More concretely, this is proof that the drivers and operators are capable of putting an end to the forced consolidation and retrieving the 5-year individual franchise.

“This is also proof that if our resistance is strong and we don’t succumb to intimidation, we can deter the state from its anti-people policies,” he said. “This can be done through mass withdrawal from consolidated franchises and cessation of all motions for application for consolidation.”

“The Marcos Jr regime, through their hollow and dirty tactics, proved the validity and correctness of strikes and protests,” the group said. “No amount of rebranding, lies, and deceit can hide the fact that this useless, rotten, puppet regime will do anything just to please its ruling class accomplices and its foreign capitalist masters.”

Piston’s call to all drivers and operators: Claim victory! Fight on!