Since January this year, the transport group Piston has conducted several mass filing or the simultaneous submission of documents to the LTFRB to secure provisional individual authority and registration for both unconsolidated and consolidated drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys. The group held the mass filings as a protest against the forced and failed consolidated franchises and cooperatives.

The provisional authority was won because of the firm stand and struggle of militant drivers and operators against the bogus transport modernization program and jeepney phaseout.

Piston asserted that the forced franchise consolidation “monopolizes, seizes and destroys” drivers’ livelihoods. A decade of implementation of the bogus modernization program had phased out 180,000 jeepneys nationwide and dispossessed 500,000 drivers and operators of their livelihood.

“Our mass filing protest is itself a fight against consolidation,” it said. “In the mass filing protest, we collectively demand from the state our right to our livelihood.”

Piston urged all operators to “expose the corruption” of cooperatives, corporations, and associations and “put an end to the exploitation and deception by corrupt leaders of desperate operators.”

“Break away from corrupt cooperatives, corporations, and associations!” the group challenged.

National battle

From the National Capital Region, Piston leaders went to various parts of the country this February to encourage drivers to conduct mass filing and secure individual provisional authority and registration. They did this while continuing to struggle for the restoration of the 5‑year individual franchise and the complete junking of the jeepney phaseout.

In Metro Baguio, drivers and operators collectively stood firm to expose corruption in cooperatives, corporations, and associations. The corrupt practices they exposed in these primarily included: the absence of genuine elections of leaders, exorbitant membership fees and other charges, leaders’ excessive control, no dividends nor fair income sharing. Transparency is also lacking and funds are anomalously handled resulting in indebtedness and hardship for drivers and operators.

“Let us not be deceived by ‘transport leaders’ and associations that are leading our struggle astray,” Piston Metro Baguio appealed. “The strength of drivers and operators lies in our organizing and unity, not in simply surrendering the struggles we are waging.”

Drivers in Iloilo and Guimaras simultaneously filed documents for individual provisional authority and registration on February 12. They were joined by Piston president Mody Floranda. The drivers and operators also demanded the junking of the undemocratic, pro-business, and destructive Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) in Iloilo City and the Provincial Public Transport Route Plan in the Province. More than 30 associations under the No To PUV Phaseout Coalition Iloilo and Guimaras, both consolidated and unconsolidated, earlier gathered on January 31.

Floranda also attended a discussion on February 8 with drivers in Albay and Sorsogon under Condor-Piston Bicol regarding operators’ issues, especially the corruption and anomalies of consolidated companies. From this, they drew up the CONDOR-PISTON campaign for a “mass withdrawal protest” from consolidated franchise with drivers from various districts of Albay.

Drivers and operators in Sorsogon discussed the anomalous and corruption-riddled local route plan which was not opened to consultation.

“The LPTRP destroyed the livelihood of Sorsogon operators and drivers, including those who already entered cooperatives and corporations, and made commuters’ trips more difficult through fragmented and more expensive rides,” they said.

Monopoly consolidation, root of corruption

Drivers and operators in Albay shared with Piston documents and accounts about corruption in the modernization program.

These include the commission system which enabled the consolidated corporations chairmen to earn ₱100,000–₱200,000 in commission for every modern vehicle that the company buys. The chairman borrows from the bank, but the “cooperative” members pay the loan.

“This is no longer the cooperatives’ issue because the Marcos government, the DOTr, and the LTFRB foment this practice,” Floranda said. “The agencies themselves are complicit (in this scheme).”

He called on drivers and operators who were forced or deceived into the bogus modernization to break away and withdraw from the corrupt and fake cooperatives and corporations.

Provisional individual registration

Piston clarified that what has been won is still only provisional or temporary authority and individual registration and that this has not yet dismantled the law on forced consolidation. Nevertheless, this is already a major step toward the restoration of the 5‑year individual franchise.

Piston also clarified that all those who want to may apply for provisional authority, not only those plying routes where no consolidated company or cooperative operates.

The group stated that drivers and operators must continue to assert the individual franchise because the Marcos regime will not voluntarily grant it.

“Contrary to what others say that we should thank the government, the government continues to deny us our livelihood,” Piston said. “We should not thank the Marcos government; in fact, we should hold it to account.”