Drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys once again condemned the Marcos regime for its bogus and deceitful data that “majority” or 80% have entered the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (now Public Transport Modernization Program or PTMP). This can also be said of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, leader of the Akbayan Citizen’s Action Party, who did not sign the Senate resolution calling for its suspension at the excuse that a “significant majority” has already signed up for the program.

The senator said she hesitated to sign the resolution using the data. “They should not be disadvantaged, right? They obeyed, they entered and they started complying,” she said. Among the 23 senators, only Hontiveros did not sign the resolution.

Manibela (Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagka-Isang Terminal ng Transportation) and Piston (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide) of ordinary jeepney drivers and operators, refute this number.

They said the 80% counted are those who have been coerced, intimidated and hoodwinked into entering the consolidation. “The real success of a program is measured by the correctness and quality of the implementation, not by the number of FORCED compliance,” Mar Valbuena, president of Manibela, emphasized.

For Piston, the ongoing series of protests and various clamor by the people nationwide against the program proves that the Filipino masses reject corporate modernization. “And why not? This will clearly dispossess thousands of drivers and operators of livelihood, and those who earlier entered the program will be buried in debt,” the group said.

Drivers’ groups data said nearly 140,000 drivers, 60,000 small operators, and more than 28.5 million commuters have been burdened by forced consolidation and bogus modernization. Since 2017, when the then Duterte regime began to implement it, drivers and operators have been conducting strikes and public protests. Because of these actions, it has been pushed back and delayed several times.

Hontiveros stated that the second reason for not signing the resolution is to “also improve the riding experience, hopefully more active transportation for our passengers.” This is also one of the reasons promoted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to force the program to the detriment of the majority.

Piston said even commuters will be victimized by the PTMP because of its accompanying fare increases, and the destruction of the supply of public transportation. “The public transport modernization program will clearly disadvantage the entire Filipino people, not only those who entered the program,” it said.

The group asserts “the need to fight for the complete liberation and withdrawal of the operators from the program itself, and the breaking of the chain of debt that this program imposed on them.”

Meanwhile on August 19, Senate President Francis Escudero engaged the jeep drivers and operators, including Manibela and Piston, in a dialogue. After the conversation, Escudero expressed that he is convinced that many issues that must yet be addressed before forcing drivers and operators to comply with the PTMP.

Piston and Manibela’s dialogue followed a three-day transport strike and protest actions last August 14 to August 16 in Metro Manila, Bacolod City and Iloilo City to emphasize their opposition to this program.