The country’s public transport crisis continues to worsen. This is reflected in three related events: the planned layoffs of 14,000 Move It motorcycle taxi riders, the death of 10 people in a bus accident on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and the continuing refusal of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to address the grievances of jeepney drivers and operators seeking to register individual franchises.

Piston president Mody Floranda said “These are no longer isolated incidents, but symptoms of the systemic collapse of the public transport system that is supposed to serve the people.”

In April, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ordered the reduction of Move It’s rider fleet. Piston and the affected riders strongly opposed this.

Floranda said, “This decision is unfair and causes major problems for the livelihood of drivers and riders. The government must prioritize the rights of workers instead of favoring big business.”

On April 30, ten people died when a bus plowed into several vehicles on SCTEX. Investigation revealed that the driver fell asleep at the wheel, which, according to Floranda, was due to low wages, lack of rest, and absence of job security.

“This accident is a clear effect of the exploitative conditions faced by drivers. Low wages and insufficient rest force them to drive beyond their capacity just to survive,” Floranda said.

At the same time, Piston strongly opposes the mandatory drug testing that the DOTr plans to impose on PUV drivers. They said mandatory drug testing, especially if implemented without adequate protection or support systems, is more focused on surveillance and control than on genuine safety. “It treats drivers as suspects instead of workers or professionals. It disregards their low income, poor working conditions, and lack of state support,” the group said.

He added, “The DOTr should prioritize improving infrastructure, regulating working hours, and providing humane wages and benefits to drivers. Punishing workers is not enough while allowing corporations to exploit them.”

Piston also condemns the agency for deliberately delaying the release of the memorandum that would allow unconsolidated PUV operators to renew their franchises. “The delay causes uncertainty in the livelihood of drivers and operators. This is not just paperwork, this is about food on the table and the education of their families,” Floranda stated.

Piston urged the government to stop policies that burden workers and to implement a progressive, patriotic, and pro-people public transport system.

“Public transport is not a business, it is the right of every Filipino. Until it is no longer treated as a business, it will continue to be dangerous, chaotic, and inhumane,” Floranda said.

Despite the challenges, Piston remains determined to fight for the transport workers’ rights for humane wages, job security, and decent working conditions as the key to safe roads and good service for all.