Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 18) — Another transport strike is planned on September 25 (Monday) and 26 (Tuesday) to protest the government’s gradual plan of phasing out public utility jeepneys (PUJs).
Stop and Go Transport Coalition President Jun Magno said in a news briefing Monday they expect the participation of at least 90 percent of their 74,000 member-operators nationwide.
This early, Magno apologized to the public for the inconvenience the transport strike may cause.
“Kaya kami nagpepresscon na ngayon para mapaghandaan Ito ng gobyerno at publiko,” Magno said. “Ang importante maipahiwatig namin ang mga hinaing sa jeepney phaseout.”
[Translation: We are holding a press conference so as to give the government and the public a heads up. What matters is for us to air our grievances on the jeepney phaseout.]
Under the modernization program, public utility vehicles (PUVs) that are more than 15 years old will be banned from the road, and will be replaced by vehicles with “low-carbon and low-emission technology.”
According to the Transportation department, a little less than 180,000 PUJs, which comprise 57 percent of the total PUVs, are still plying various routes.
READ: Jeepney modernization program kicks off next month
Stop and Go coalition held a transport strike last February 6. They claim, only big companies can afford to replace vehicles.
READ: Nationwide transport strike happening today
Other groups also conducted a number of strikes in the past months, which prompted some schools to suspend classes.
READ: Jeepney groups to stage national day of protest
The Stop and Go Transport Coalition said they are also rejecting the government loan to purchase proposed mini-buses and buses to replace the PUJs if the phaseout program is carried out.
