The National Democratic Front (NDF)-Negros and its allied organizations support the masses of jeepney drivers and operators in the continuing fight against the sham PUV Modernization program of the Marcos regime. The unity of the semi-proletariat and other affected sectors show the collective determination of the people against the imperialist neoliberal offensive in the country.

Marcos Jr continues his ivory tower rhetoric in downplaying the failure of the PUV Modernization Program. He insists that only a “minority” have not consolidated, but progressive groups accounted as many as 2,645 routes that have not yet been subjected to consolidation, which will not only affect drivers and operators but also commuters at a national scale.

Hell-bent on accomplishing this impractical and oppressive scheme, the Marcos regime is using state fascism to silence the drivers and operators’ just struggle for their livelihood. Recently, six transport group leaders in Bacolod City were arrested and their protest action was violently dispersed by the PNP.

The reactionary government is fast-tracking the implementation of neoliberal projects including PUV Modernization, but even its own Senate does not abide by Marcos Jr’s claim in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the program is “long overdue.” Since it was jumpstarted, PUV Modernization proved to be a policy imposed by the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other similar institutions to overcome the problem of transport overproduction by imperialist countries.

The PUV Modernization Program is a commercialized scheme that only emboldens comprador-owned transport institutions and projects, while the masses of drivers and operators are forced to succumb to their selfish interests. In fact, it will bring forth rising costs of transport for commuters who are already bearing the brunt of skyrocketing prices of basic goods and services.

The reactionary government continues to implement palliative solutions that cannot in any way resuscitate the rotting semi-colonial and semi-feudal system further exacerbated by neoliberalism. Imperialist interests will only drive more people to hunger, joblessness and poverty. Thus, it is imperative for the Filipino people to unite, including drivers and operators, and raise every sectors fight into a comprehensive anti-feudal, anti-fascist, and anti-imperialist campaign.

Essentially, only the advancement of the national democratic revolution provides the solution to the centuries-old problems through genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization. It is therefore a need to continue arousing, organizing, and mobilizing all exploited and oppressed sectors of society, to establish a truly just and democratic society.