Piston welcomed the Senate resolution this week which called for the suspension of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) that pushed for the jeepney phaseout.

“This is one of the many results of the long-running struggle of Piston and the masses of drivers and operators for the scrapping of the bogus and failed pro-business modernization program,” the group said.

The Upper House recently passed the Senate Resolution No. 1096 calling on the government of Ferdinand Marcos to suspend the implementation of the PUVMP, now called the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP). The senators considered the high number of unconsolidated jeepneys, high prices of replacement mini-buses, the removal of a Filipino culture symbol and the low level of approved plans for local routes, especially in the provinces. All the senators signed, except Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

These are the same reasons why drivers and operators have been opposing the PUVMP and forced consolidation of the franchise for seven years.

“But the fight is not over,” Piston said. “We have to push the Marcos Jr. regime to completely scrap the program, and demand compensation for the damage it has inflicted on the livelihood of drivers and operators.”

In the past near eight months, the regime and the LTFRB have relentlessly threatened to apprehend drivers and operators who refuse to consolidate and to impound their vehicles if they ply their routes.

But in mid-July, Piston learned that the LTFRB issued a resolution that allowed unconsolidated jeepneys to operate on routes with no or low franchise consolidation. The resolution was passed as early as April 30, at the height of the drivers’ action against the PUVMP, but it was not made public until July. By hiding this, the LTFRB and the Marcos regime forced many drivers to enter consolidated franchises, fearing the loss of income and jobs.

“We are calling on all those who filed the consolidation application to WITHDRAW their application to challenge the revocation of the 5-year individual franchise,” Piston urged. The group is open to organizations or individuals who want help with their withdrawal or recovery.

The group further called on all other drivers and operators, and the Filipino people to intensify the protests, from the terminals, to the LTFRB, to Malacañang.” (Let’s) prepare for bigger strikes, to completely scrap the pro-foreign and pro-business modernization program,” he said.

In Iloilo City, 100 jeepneys rallied to celebrate the push to suspend the PUVMP. They denounced the program as favoring local officials and agencies, while disregarding the grievances of drivers, operators and commuters.

Elmer Forro, convenor of the No To PUV Phaseout Coalition Western Visayas (NTPPC-WV), said the PUVMP has become a burden even on existing cooperatives, due to the government’s push to replace traditional jeepneys with expensive imported mini-buses and the local government’s imposition of the Local Public Transport Route Plan which cut down the routes of many jeepneys. It also burdened small operators, who are saddled with debt due to the volume of consolidation requirements. In Iloilo, many cases have been filed before the Cooperative Development Authority related to the monopolization of routes by some giant “cooperatives” at the expense of small drivers and operators.