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PISTON urges drivers to defy ban on jeepneys

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) called on jeepney drivers and operators to continue plying their routes in defiance of the government’s deadline on franchise consolidation.

On the first day of the New Year and prohibition of operation of unconsolidated jeepneys, the transport group urged fellow transport workers to claim their right to livelihood for their families and commuters.

“Public transportation is a public service that should serve the people and not the few. Let is claim our right to the roads. Let us hold accountable the incompetent, oppressive and puppet [Ferdinand] Marcos Jr. regime accountable,” PISTON said in a New Year statement.

Several jeepneys were seen still plying their routes along Commonwealth Avenue and Pasig City poblacion in the morning of 20024’s first working day Tuesday, January 2.

Traffic had been light and passenger numbers have sparse on both locations, Kodao observed.

PISTON warned that a public transport disaster would befall major cities once commuters start returning to their jobs or schools.

Transport authorities on the other hand sought to downplay the effects of the banning of traditional jeepneys on the roads saying they are open to extending permits as long as operators commit to surrendering their individual franchises to transport cooperatives or corporations.

PISTON said the government Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is only aimed at handing over their livelihood to local and foreign capitalists.

The group added the PUVMP will result in higher fares for commuters and lower incomes for drivers and operators who will likewise incur huge debts.

New vehicles approved under the program cost around P2.5 million. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

PISTON to SC: Expedite petition to suspend jeepney consolidation deadline

Militant drivers and operators urged the Supreme Court to expedite the decision on their petition for a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the year-end jeepney franchise consolidation deadline.

In a supplemental motion, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) said the suspension of the deadline shall prevent the “grave and irreparable injury” the jeepney drivers and operators, their families, the commuters and the public in general will likely suffer at the start of the new year.

“[M]illions of drivers, operators and their families, as well as commuters all over the country will experience a severe impact on their income and livelihood should the franchise of thousands of PUV operators be cancelled on January 1, 2024,” PISTON added.

The group filed the initial petition before Christmas against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) that orders the surrender of individual franchises to cooperatives and corporations by December 31.

PISTON argues the consolidation scheme only aims to take away the livelihood of jeepney owners and operators in favor of corporations and big businessmen.

“Hundreds of thousands of citizens are affected, will lose their livelihoods, will be buried in debt or will have serious problems with additional expenses,” PISTON national president Mody Floranda said.

Bayan Muna and NUPL lawyers filed last Thursday an Extremely Urgent Motion at the Supreme Court on the petition of PISTON and commuters for a restraining order against PUV consolidation and cancellation of franchise. (Bayan Muna photo)

PISTON likewise warned that so-called modern jeepneys will increase basic fares to around P40-P50 once the PUVMP goes into full effect.

“No matter how you look at it, this bogus modernization brings nothing good to the people,” Floranda said.

In a statement Thursday, December 28, however, the Supreme Court declined to immediately issue a decision to PISTON’s original petition and instead  ordered the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) to reply within 10 days.

DoTr secretary Jaime Bautista meanwhile claimed that “majority” of jeepney operators support the program with 70% already participating in the process.

The December 31 franchise consolidation deadline stays, Bautista declared.

PISTON however belied Bautista’s claims, citing an Inclusive Cities Advocacy Network study saying 73% of Metro Manila’s traditional jeepneys will be disqualified from modernization.

Floranda also criticized LTFRB’s announcement it will give out temporary permits to jeepney operators on some routes after January 1 if they commit to have their franchise consolidated.

“That proposal is just a stopgap measure. Eventually, those who bought temporary permits will also be affected by the phase out. This proves that the whole program is a failure,” Floranda said.

PISTON and fellow transport organization Manibela are set to stage a rally at Malacanang today, Friday, following a solidarity lunch at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City.

(PISTON infographic)

The groups said the impending transport crisis is ultimately President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fault for his refusal to suspend the PUVMP.

PISTON also announced the success of Thursday’s transport strike in Davao City that paralyzed some routes in Mindanao’s main metropolis. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Ang mga nagmamadaling patayin ang dyip

“Ang nagmamadaling patayin ang jeepney ay ‘di kahit kailan nakasakay ng jeep. Keber niya sa mga taong ito ang kabuhayan?”— Bibeth Orteza (actor, writer, artist)

Image by Jo Maois Mamangun

UP workers condemn demolition of guards’ camp

University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman workers condemned the demolition of the security guards’ camp inside the campus this morning on orders of a brand-new school official.

The UP Workers’ Alliance (UPWA) said Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Roehl Jamon’s order was carried out without informing the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Guwardiya (SNG, Association of United Guards) who were using the tent as a camp while engaged in a labor struggle with their private agency.

Jamon had been vice-chancellor for just two hours when the demolition was carried out.

“There was no information, no dialogue, no other process but fascism. Jamon must have forgotten that everything should first be discussed in this university,” the UPWA said in a statement.

The alliance said the SNG and other university employees begged the demolition team to defer the order’s implementation because their spare uniforms and equipment were stored in the area, to no avail.

“At a time when it’s been raining continuously, the equipment and uniforms of the guards just got muddied because of the demolition,” the alliance said.

The guards put up their tent and camp in 2022 when they launched a campaign against their private agency they said had been refusing to pay their wages.

After investigations, former UP-Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo’s administration ended the campus’ contract with the agency last year and asked the new security firm to absorb the aggrieved guards into their contract with the university.

The SNG did not immediately dismantle their camp pending resolution of their petition to be compensated for the months they were unpaid by their old agency and the university.

Altermidya photo

UPWA said SNG’s camp was allowed by Nemenzo and the guards have duly requested his successor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, who has yet to respond.

UPWA said rumors that off-duty guards were drinking and gambling in the camp are without evidence and basis.

“What they are too ashamed to say are the words ‘the camp is unsightly.’ They do not like it because the camp symbolizes the unjust policies happening inside the university, such as contractualization,” UPWA said.

The union said the university must give the guards a space of their own.

UP-Diliman has yet to comment on the UPWA statement. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

TAMBAYAN Episode 2: Kumusta na ang Wyeth Workers?

Sa ikalawang episode ng Tambayan, pinuntahan natin ang mga manggagawa ng Wyeth na kamakailan ay kumaharap sa biglang tanggalan. Para sa mga manggagawa, naging matagumpay pa rin ang paggiit nila sa kanilang karapatan. Kumusta na nga ba sila?

    OFWs in HK press DMW’s Ople for response to demands

    Migrant workers in Hong Kong (HK) are demanding a response to a list of complaints they submitted in a dialogue with Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Philippine Consulate officials last April.

    More than a month after their FilCom(Filipino Community) Leaders Meeting in the Chinese territory, Migrante-HK said they have yet to hear migrant workers secretary Susan Ople’s official response to their complaints, prompting them to write another letter to the DMW.

    The migrant workers pressed their demand for the scrapping of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) they need to secure to be allowed to exit the Philippines.

    They also wanted a stop to the mandatory payment of PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS) and Philippine Home Mortgage Corporation (Pag-Ibig) contributions.

    The OFWs said these payments, increased during the Rodrigo Duterte administration, must only be voluntary

    They also demanded the continuation of Covid assistance payments to OFWs sick of the virus, as well as prompt assistance by consulate and Philippine Overseas Labor Office personnel to Filipinos in distress abroad.

    Migrante-HK said Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) deputy administrator Honey Quino has already committed to continuing assistance to OFWs sick with Covid as well as to Filipinos in distress.

    DMW undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan announced the review of the OEC, the group added.

    But the OFWs said they need to hear from Ople herself, especially the assurance of receiving help from the OWWA for both members and non-members.

    “It is not enough that additional payments (to PhilHealth, SSS and Pag-Ibig) are suspended. We want the total scrapping of the OEC,” the group said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

    Church and labor groups demand wage increase as Labor Day approaches

    By Nuel M. Bacarra

    The Church People-Workers Solidarity (CWS) said it supports the clamor of labor unions in the country for a substantial wage increase, adding it is just and urgent.

    In a statement Thursday, San Carlos Bishop and CWS chairperson Gerardo Alminaza said his group supports the Makabayan bloc bill seeking a P750 daily wage increase to help workers meet the P1,161.00 daily minimum living cost.

    Alminaza said the government may approve the P750 daily wage increase bill submitted by the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives for workers to meet the current living wage of P1,161.00.

    Senate President Miguel Zubiri’s Bill No. 2002 meanwhile seeks a P150 daily wage increase that aligns with a recent wage increase petition filed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

    “CWS supports the proposal that the government shall provide wage subsidies for micro-businesses. Revenues for wage subsidies can be generated by taxing the super-rich and the biggest corporations. Big companies and top billionaires have long benefited from workers’ productivity which earned them billions of profits,” the prelate said.

    A wealth tax, for example, on 2,495 billionaires can contribute to P469 billion the government may use for a legislated wage hike, he added.

    “Wage increase creates a strong economic multiplier effect. The additional income allows the workers and their families to buy more,” Alminaza added.

    No increase, just ‘ayuda’

    Meanwhile, Department of Labor and Employment secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said in a radio interview Friday that no wage increase is possible this year.

    Wage increase petitions are being handled by the regional wage boards, he added.

    There are about eight pending wage increases petitions filed before Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards, including a P100 immediate wage increase petition filed by the Alyansa sa Mamumuong Kontraktwal sa Sugbo for Central Visayas laborers last Thursday.

    The daily minimum wage in Region 7 is at P435.00 with a real purchasing power of around P375.00-P384.00, their petition said.

    Laguesma said the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government has allocated P1.8B as cash assistance to 300,000 workers across the country through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged and other similar mechanisms.

    Labor groups on the other have announced protest rallies nationwide on Labor Day, May 1, Monday.

    The rally in Manila hopes to gather about 10,000 workers and allies in a rally by the All Philippine Trade Unions (APTU), an alliance of major labor groups including the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino. #

    PNP arrests another trade unionist in Quezon City

    By Joseph Cuevas

    Progressive organizations condemned the arrest of another labor union organizer and called for his immediate release.

    Benjamin ‘Banjo’ Cordero, chairperson of Sandigan ng mga Manggagawa sa Quezon City, was arrested by non-uniformed police officers at around 11:40 pm Tuesday night, October 25.

    A warrant of arrest for frustrated homicide was issued by San Mateo (Rizal) Regional Trial Branch 77 on October 24 was issued to Cordero and four others.

    The labor organizer said the four other respondents are unknown to him.

    Cordero was brought to Batasan Police Station 6 and temporarily detained as of this writing.

    In a Facebook Live post from Tudla Productions, Cordero said that his arrest is part of the government’s attacks to silence union organizers and activists.

    Cordero’s lawyer Louie Santos said his client did not receive a copy of the complaint for him to reply.

    The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) condemned Cordero’s arrest coming as it did mere weeks after fellow labor organizers Kara Taggaoa of KMU International and PISTON leader Larry Balbuena were arrested and detained on charges of direct assault.

    “The State has long utilized this scheme, arbitrarily filing trumped-up charges against activists then illegally arresting and detaining them,” KMU said.

    The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) also called for the dropping of the charge against Cordero and asked help to raise funds for his bail amounting to P72,000.

    Cordero is the Campaign Officer of the Urban Poor Coordinating Council in NCR and the Labor Sector Representative of the Quezon City Development Council.

    He is also a former Makabayan-Quezon City coordinator and student activist from Polytechnic University of the Philippines where he served as college student council chairperson in early 2000s. #

    Migrante International lauds Taiwan’s decision to welcome back OFWs

    Urges PH government to shoulder fees and dismantle recruiters’ broker system

    A Filipino migrant group welcomed Taiwan’s decision to start allowing several thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) into the island after eight months of prohibition due to surging Covid-19 cases last year.

    Migrante International said many OFWs waiting to fly back to the island may now heave a sigh of relief knowing they are now allowed to fly to Taiwan starting February 15.

    Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) of Taiwan announced on Monday, February 7, it will welcome migrant workers from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand to enter Taiwan beginning next Tuesday as part of island’s special program gradually allowing more foreign workers into the territory.

    Taiwan will however require foreign workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country of origin before their entry into Taiwan.

    “After foreign workers arrive in Taiwan, their employers can arrange for them to stay at a quarantine hotel to complete quarantine and self-health management; both foreign workers and employers must abide by related epidemic prevention rules and guideline,” the CECC said.

    The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) likewise welcomed the development and expressed gratitude to Taiwan.

    “We thank Taiwan for welcoming once more our compatriots in their various employment industries starting February 15,” DOLE secretary Silvestre Bello III said Tuesday.

    Migrante International however asked the Philippine government to make it easier for outbound OFWs to return to their jobs abroad and do away with unnecessary requirements.

    “While we recognize the importance of health requirements and protocols, we are very concerned that such health requirements will again bleed dry our OFWs. They have suffered too much from this pandemic for delaying their livelihood and now they will be burdened by long list of fees,” the group said.

    The group urged the government to shoulder outbound OFWs PCR test fee, medical test fee, Bureau of Quarantine certificate and other expenses related to quarantine.

    ‘Exploitative broker system’

    Migrante International also revealed it received reports from stranded OFWs that their employment agencies require another round of payments for the processing of their overseas applications under the so-called broker system.

    These payments include multiple medical examinations at least every three months, training fees, yellow card, visa renewal, PCR test, BOQ, OEC as well as PhilHealth, Pag-ibig, SSS and other mandatory contributions, the group said.

    “Deprived of the promised government ayuda (assistance), they are buried in debt in order to pursue their only hope to work abroad in order to meet the economic needs of their families,” Migrante Internation added.

    The government must dismantle the so-called broker system of local recruitment agencies in Taiwan that controls the living and working conditions of OFWs and charge OFWs with several fees ranging from NT$60K to NT$200K per working contract from day one up to the time they depart Taiwan, the group revealed. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

    Jobs crisis continues, informal work worsens

    by IBON Foundation

    Despite economic managers’ claims, the country’s jobs situation is bleak and far from returning to pre-pandemic levels, said research group IBON. Millions of Filipinos are still struggling to find work or turning more and more to informal jobs and self-employment to survive. The group said that substantial ayuda is urgently needed and that Congress should hold a special session to ensure the immediate allocation and distribution of funds for emergency aid.

    IBON said the latest labor force figures show that the 3.7 million unemployed in May 2021 remains higher by 1.3 million than in January 2020 before the pandemic. The 2.2 million increase in employment is not enough to accommodate the additional 3.5 million Filipinos in the labor force, still leaving over a million unemployed. The number of underemployed has only decreased by just 807,000.

    The employment increase also hides a significant decline in the quality of work and incomes as the country remains battered by the ongoing health and economic crisis, said the group. Millions of Filipinos are increasingly resorting to informal self-employment to make a living any way they can.

    IBON noted that, by class of worker, the number of wage and salary workers declined by 131,000 from January 2020 to May 2021. This is mainly due to the 711,000 drop in those that worked for private establishments, likely from closures and retrenchments in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

    The number of Filipinos entering informal self-employment and unpaid work is also worsening, the group said. Self-employed work without any paid employees climbed to 12.7 million (1.6 million increase) from 11.1 million in January 2020. Unpaid family workers also rose to 3.6 million (932,000 increase). Employers in own family-operated farms and businesses however dropped to 761,000 (241,000 decrease) from about one million – an indication that small businesses and farms have been unable to cope and are shutting down amid the pandemic crisis.

    IBON stressed that the number of employed by hours worked also reveals how bad the informal employment situation has gotten. Those that worked part-time went up by 3.2 million to 16.7 million, while those that worked full-time fell by 1.3 million. Those considered as “with a job, not at work” increased by 273,000 to 606,000.  The increase in part-time workers and those with a job but not at work can also be attributed to the rising number of self-employed and businesses implementing reduced workdays and hours.

    More and more Filipino workers are entering sectors that are known to be low-paying and irregular, the group noted. Employment in wholesale and retail trade increased by 1.6 million to 10.2 million and in agriculture by one million to 10.6 million. Economic growth in these two sectors however continued to contract in the first quarter of 2021 – agriculture contracted by 1.2% and trade by 3.9%. This strongly implies lower sectoral incomes made worse by overcrowding.

    The rise in part-time employment in these sectors also reflects the irregularity of work, said IBON. The number of part-timers grew by 1.1 million to 3.2 million in trade and by 889,000 to 7.2 million in agriculture. 

    IBON said that with an increasing number of Filipinos struggling to support themselves amid poor job prospects and falling incomes, substantial aid, subsidies and support are urgently needed. It is time for the government to take immediate steps in providing these and prioritizing the welfare and interests of millions of vulnerable Filipinos. The group said it can start by heeding people’s demand for a special session to ensure the speedy passage of legislation that will ensure the immediate release of funds and distribution of ayuda.