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Tuloy ang welga: PISTON rejects ‘further study’ of jeepney phase-out scheme

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Striking public transport drivers and operators rejected government promises to further study their demands to stop the phase-out of traditional jeepneys and announced the continuation of their scheduled three-day strike.

In a statement, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) said government representatives offered only promises that do not address their fears of losing their livelihood.

PISTON president Mody Floranda said Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III only told them the agency will further “study” their demand to withdraw their December 31 deadline against independently-operated  traditional jeepneys.

Floranda added that Guadiz had the same response to their additional demand of scrapping the franchise consolidation schemes under public transport cooperatives as well as the replacement of the iconic Filipino jeepneys.

“Puro paasa. Hindi na mahinitay ng mga kumakalam na sikmura ng mga tsuper at operator ang ‘pag-aaral’ ng LTFRB,” Floranda said. (They just want to bring our hopes up again. But the empty stomachs of drivers and operators could no longer wait for their so-called studies.)

In a statement, Department of Transportation secretary Jaime Bautista said the December 31 deadline is not for the replacement of traditional jeepneys but on the consolidation of franchises.

Denying there is a government phase-out program on the jeepneys, Bautista added that roadworthy jeepneys may continue to operate next year.

Bautista also said that there are cheaper vehicles that operators may buy through loans from government banks .

Floranda however said the government attempts to pacify striking jeepney drivers do not address their demands but an effort to make it appear they are concerned about the public welfare.

PISTON has accused the franchise consolidation program as a scheme to take away jeepney franchises from small and independent operators and concentrate them under transport cooperatives controlled by businesspersons.

Members of transport group Manibela joined in Monday’s transport strike in Metro Manila and key regions around the country. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Transport strike over; Palace promises to review jeepney phaseout program

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Public utility drivers suspended their transport strike on the third day following a dialogue with Malacanang officials Tuesday night.

In a press conference at the University of the Philippines in Diliman Wednesday morning, the No to PUV (public utility vehicles) Phaseout Coalition said palace officials promised to review the government’s controversial modernization program and come up with a decision before December 31.

The coalition said officials of the Office of the Executive Secretary promised that all stakeholders, such as drivers, operators and commuters, would be involved in the review of the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) Order 2017-011, or the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) on its PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP).

The dialogue was ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the group added.

Transport groups Manibela and the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) launched the transport strike last Monday in opposition to the new deadline of June 31 when jeepneys will no longer be allowed to ply their routes.

The program is feared to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of drivers and small operators of the country’s iconic jeepneys and utility vehicles.

The government issued threats of punishment and later extended the June 31 deadline to the end of the year to discourage drivers to join the strike.

Due mainly to PISTON’s organizational strength, the two-day strike immobilized 80 percent of Metro Manila, including 100 percent of the metropolis’ national roads as well as many of the regional centers nationwide.

Several members of non-participating transport organizations also joined the strike.

“While we have yet to achieve our main objective of having the OFG junked, Malacanang’s promise to review the jeepney phaseout program is an initial victory. We also forced the Palace to finally reply to our demands,” the coalition said in a statement.

The coalition also called on Marcos Jr. to order the release of three PISTON members arrested by the Philippine National Police in Alabang, Muntinlupa on Tuesday for participating in the strike. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Akala mo’y libre…

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Ni George Tumaob Calaor

walang libreng sakay…

sa piniga nilang sobra-sobrang buwis

matagal mo na yang binayaran

mula sa iyong pinagpawisa’t kinayod ng paguran

sobrang bayad na ang mga iyan.

Teka nga…

Sinong ayaw sa modernong sasakyan

kung ito ay hindi nakasasagasa

sa hanapbuhay at kabuhayan…

sino ang mag-aayaw sa kumbinyente’t

magarang unit para sa kapakanan

ng mga komyuter na pinagsiserbisyuhan…

kung ito ay biyaheng hatid ay patas na sagana

at ang ruta ay pangkaunlaran—makabayan.

Ngunit sa itong iskemang mapanggantso’t

Martial Law na isinusubo—prangkesa’y ipinasusuko

sa hatol ng mga malalaking lokal

at kakutsabang dayong paluhod na kinakatigan…

modernisasyong halaga’y milyon milyong

lagpas sa kakayahan ng mga ordinaryong tsuper

at maliliit na operator na kukurampot ang kinikita

karamihan ay humahabol sa mga bayarin

at utang na sakay sa tubuan…

ito ay isang busina ng permanente pagpaparada

sa garahe ng kabangkaroteha’t kawalan…

biktimang paharurot na sinunggaban

sa monopolistang pakanang

mas malupit pa sa hit and run.

Court acquits PISTON leader vs LTFRB charge

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The Metropolitan Trial Court of Quezon City (MTC-QC) acquitted a transport leader against charges filed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in 2017.

Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) president emeritus George San Mateo said MTC-QC Branch 43 acquitted him of the charges filed by the transport agency in connection with his role in the nationwide transport strikes opposing the LTFRB’s so-called jeepney modernization program.

“According to the court, I am acquitted of the charge against me by the LTFRB of allegedly violating the Public Service Act (Commonwealth Act No 146) when I was PISTON president,” San Mateo said.

MTC-QC Branch 43 conducted an open court promulgation of his case that he watched online, San Mateo said.

Then PISTON president, San Mateo led nationwide strikes against the so called jeepney modernization scheme in February and October of 2017 which the LTFRB said is disallowed and may lead to cancellations of permits to operate.

San Mateo said the court’s decision has validated their stand that the jeepney drivers’ right to hold strikes is more important than LTFRB’s threats.

“This should be considered a victory for the right of PUV drivers, small operators and the people to peaceably and militantly assemble to air their legitimate grievances and aspirations,” San Mateo said.

San Mateo called on both drivers and passengers to carry on the fight against the phase out of jeepneys and the “business of fake public utility vehicle modernization by the Duterte, Department of Transportation and LTFRB regimes.”

The decision was released two years to the day when San Mateo was arrested and allowed to post bail. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

First Kalinga transport strike due to jeepney phaseout

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By TMK
www.nordis.net

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — About 150 drivers, operators and commuters launched a protest action against the implementation of the jeepney phase out program by the current administration on July 9, 2018 here in the city center.

The first ever protest of the transport sector in the city commenced with a protest caravan of about 40 jeepneys from Bulanao in front of the Provincial Hospital towards the City hall in Dagupan, Tabuk city with MPT, streamers and calls to denounce the jeepney phase out of the present government administration which is an attack to their lives and livelihood.

Marching around the the city center, the protesters trooped to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session hall to present before the city legislators their criticisms and position paper on the Jeepney modernization program through the Department Order No. 217-011 or the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines released by the Department of Transportation (DoTr) on June 19, 2017.

The said protest was organized and led by the Kalinga Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (KaFeJODA) a newly formed federation of different small associations of public transport groups in the province. Whereas, the commuters especially from the basic sector- farmers welcomed the activity and mobilized themselves to participate in the protest action believing that in the end, it is them who will surely suffer the consequences and effect of this jeepney phase out.

The drivers, operators and commuters out rightly opposed the plan of the Duterte government to modernize the public transport wherein by the end of 2020 the current jeepney will be replaced by either solar a powered jeep, electronic jeeps and/or Euro IV engine jeeps.

“Dakami nga babassit nga jeepney operators ken drivers agraman maapektaran nga umili ditoy Kalinga ket saan mi a palubusan ti kayat ken panggep ti administrasyon ni Duterte nga i-modernize wenno sukatan dagiti pampubliko nga transportasyon. Kontra kami iti jeepney phase-out gapu ta dakami ti number 1 nga maapektaran. Patayen na ti pangkabiagan mi nga babbassit nga operators ken drivers,” the KaFeJODA statement read.

(We the small jeepney operators and drivers together with the affected people of Kalinga are not in favor on the plan of the Duterte administration to replace the public transportation vehicles, we are against the jeepney phase out because we wil be the first ones to be adversely affected. It will kill our source of livelihood.)

“First and foremost, we the small operators and drivers cannot afford these expensive jeeps they are trying to introduce ranging from eight hundred thousand up to 1.6 million pesos. Furthermore, these type of jeeps are not applicable here in the province considering the mountainous terrain,” the statement further read.

The operators and drivers belied the modernization program of the Duterte government and said, “instead, it is but another strategy of the capitalist corporations to monopolize and corporatize the public transportation system for their super profits.

They also claimed that this program is a disaster to their livelihood that would slump them to poverty. Through the fleet consolidation scheme of the PUV modernization, it will displace most of the current drivers/operators who are single operator units.

“Maawanan kami iti kontrol iti bukod mi a lugan ken prangkisa gapu ta maikonsentra kadagiti korporasyon ken babaknang nga isu da metlaeng ti makabael a makagatang iti minimum 15 units kadagitoy a lugan.” (“we no longer have control over our own jeeps and franchise since it will be concentrated to the corporation and rich businessmen who also are the only ones who can afford to buy a minimum of 15 units of these type of jeeps” the statement also read.

On the other hand, the city legislators welcomed and accommodated the protesters in their regular session. The protesters presented before the legislators their position paper asking the city councilors to support their plea via resolution to suspend the implementation of the Department of Transportation department order and the current transport system at status quo.

The legislators expressed that they cannot supersede any memorandum released from the national, however they assured to look into it and make an action to address the pressing issue. The city legislative body through the Committee on Transportation shall review and study the Department Order and Memorandum Circular No. 2018-008. The legislators also seconded the motion of Hon. Zoraida Wacnang to invite the KaFeJODA to sit during the review and study the said Department Order.

Meanwhile, the protesters felt dismayed upon their observation that the city councilors are obviously not so aware of the issue of the jeepney phase out. #nordis.net

No strike today: Piston condemns Palace suspension of classes

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Jeepney drivers and operators condemned Malacañan Palace’s suspension of classes Tuesday based merely on “slightest threat of a [jeepney] strike.”

In a statement, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) chairperson George San Mateo said there is no truth to Malacañan’s announcement the group planned to have more jeepney strikes after Monday.

“As Piston announced last March 14, the transport strike was scheduled only for Monday (March 19),” San Mateo said.

“Piston forcefully condemns Malacañan’s announcement based on a false information aimed at confusing the people. This is the [Rodrigo] Duterte’s way of trying to undermine the drivers and operators’ call against the jeepney phaseout,” he added.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announcement Tuesday morning the suspension of classes following instructions from Duterte.

“The President has instructed that he will suspend classes even with the slightest threat of a strike to ensure the protection and well-being of students,” Roque said.

Roque made a similar announcement Monday, saying the Palace will call for a class suspension in Metro Manila Tuesday until Friday “if and when Piston pushes through with its threat to continue its nationwide strike.”

Piston and San Mateo said Roque’s claim is “fake news.”

Piston clarified Monday night there will be no more transport strikes this week.

“The strike was only for one day today, March 19. It is only Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque who is coming out with the fake news there may be a strike tomorrow (Tuesday),” the group said.

Piston said it is impossible for Malacañan not to know there are no extensions after full coverage by media and government intelligence agents of Monday’s strike.

Piston opposes the Duterte government’s plan to immediately replace the iconic jeepneys with expensive vehicles

The group added they are for modernization of public mass transport in the country, but not at the expense of millions of families who depend on the jeepney for their livelihood and affordable mode of transport. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Duterte an ‘arrogant fake’–CPP

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The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) called President Rodrigo Duterte an “arrogant fake” for cussing the drivers and small operators who recently held a two-day nationwide transport strike against the government’s planned phase out of the iconic jeepney.

“Nagpupuputok ang butse mo sa ibinubugang usok ng mga jeep, pero tameme ka naman sa napakakapal na usok ng mga coal-fired power plant na lumalason sa kapaligiran sa buong bansa,” the CPP said in a statement. [You are angry at the smoke belched by the jeepney but you are silent about the thick smoke from coal-fired power plants that poison the entire country’s environment.]

“The truth is, you just want drivers and small operators to die in hardship and poverty in order to serve your true masters,” the group added.

In his speech at the Federalism Summit in Naga City Tuesday, Duterte unleashed another cuss-filled tirade against the protesters,

“Mahirap kayo? P*******a, magtiis kayo sa hirap at gutom. Wala akong pakialam!” Duterte told the protesters. [You say you are poor? You sons of bitches, put up with hardship and hunger. I don’t have a care!]

The CPP said Duterte again showed his true color.

“[G]alit sa mga gutom at mahirap, laluna ang mga marunong manindigan at lumaban para sa kanilang interes,” the CPP said. [He is against the hungry and the poor, especially those who know how to stand up and struggle for their interests.]

In his speech, Duterte also branded transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide, human rights group Karapatan and Kilusang Mayo Uno as CPP fronts.

Dictator’s mindset

Other groups also condemned Duterte’s statements against the protesters.

“We say to Mr. Duterte: please stick to the issue! His self-indulged blabbing over the national television, refuses to address the real threat to the livelihood of the country’s jeepney drivers being posed by the Jeepney Phaseout Scheme,” KMU said.

KMU said Duterte refuses to listen to the jeepney drivers and operators’ legitimate demand and logical reasoning to junk the jeepney phaseout scheme.

“Duterte is proving he himself is a front of the oligarchs, such as the Ayalas, Pangilinan, and Cojuangco, who will be raking super profits from this scheme. The same oligarchs whom he handed control over MRT/LRT, express ways, telecommunication, power, and water,” KMU said.

“Duterte has the mindset of a dictator! When the poor exercise their right to speak up against threats to their livelihood, he brands their actions as ‘conspiracy’ and ‘rebellion’,” the group added.

Anakbayan Metro Manila burns an image of Duterte following the President’s cuss-filled tirade against striking jeepney drivers. (Photo by Kathy Yamzon)

Meanwhile, youth group Anakbayan-Metro Manila slipped through heavily-guarded Mendiola Street to hold a lightning rally at Malacañan Palace Thursday and condemn “Duterte’s inhumane and anti-poor statement” on the recently concluded transport strike.

The group burned Duterte’s image depicting him as “anti-poor, anti-people, and subservient to foreign masters” at the Palace’s Gate 7.

Anakbayan said it also holds Duterte accountable for the extrajudicial killings as well as the violent demolition and harassment of residents in Floodway, Pasig. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

LTFRB lawyer crashes PISTON rally in Cubao

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Tension built up at a protest activity in Cubao, Quezon City as jeepney drivers on strike accused Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) spokesperson Aileen Lizada of interrupting and heckling their press briefing.

Protesting drivers and supporters were holding a press conference early afternoon Tuesday when Lizada arrived at the venue and drew reporters to her for a media briefing of her own.

Lizada again belittled the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON)-led two-day nationwide transport strike against the government’s planned phase-out of jeepneys and other public utility vehicles (PUV’s).

Lizada also threatened to file charges against participating drivers and operators as well as No To Jeepney Phase-Out Coalition leaders.

Initially taken aback by Lizada\s actions, Piston, Gabriela, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Migrante, and Anakbayan members responded with chants during Lizada’s briefing.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) personnel formed a security ring around the LTFRB official.

Piston national chairpersonv George San Mateo called Lizada an “attack dog and deodorizer of President Rodrigo Duterte.”

San Mateo again urged President Duterte to a dialogue, saying he must scrap the PUV and jeepney phase-out plan.

In their press briefing before Lizada’s interruption, Piston said their two-day strike was succesful in informing the people of the “impending corporate take-over” of the entire public transport in the country. # (Report and photo by Kathy Yamzon)