Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the government has programs set aside for drivers who lost their jobs after failing to consolidate as required by the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
“We have the social program of the government for those who do not really want to join the program… we have programs for TESDA [Technical Education And Skills Development Authority] and DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment] would be giving them employment yung ayaw magnegosyo (for those who do not want to start a business),” LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Monday.
He said the drivers can avail of vocational courses from TESDA, and the government will also provide them capital for them to start their business.
Existing cooperatives are also in need and are willing to hire these drivers to ensure their units are able to run for 16 hours a day as required by the modernized system, Guadiz said. This means that the driver has to be replaced every eight hours.
On the other hand, Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said 25,000 jeepney and UV drivers in Metro Manila will lose their jobs by Feb. 1 when those who failed to consolidate will no longer be allowed to ply the road.
In a separate statement Monday, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) said the government’s “desperate” move to provide upskilling assistance to jeepney drivers shows that it is aware that its PUV modernization program will cause massive job cuts.
“Nagmamadali lang silang pagkakitaan ng mga kasabwat nilang mga negosyante at korporasyon ang public transport. Imbis na ihinto ang programa para walang maapektuhan, nagkukumahog pa maghanap ng pondo para sa sa ayuda ‘diumano at para sa mga impounding. Eh ‘di aminado silang pumapalpak sila,” PISTON President Mody Floranda said.
[Transportation: They are in a hurry to prioritize their private business partners, who will benefit from public transport. Instead of ending the program to avoid bad outcomes, they are keen on looking for funds to shoulder their so-called assistance and to impound units. They are only justifying their failure.]
PISTON also said that over 500 PUV routes with deficient consolidated entities in NCR will cause a “transport disaster” to the public by Feb. 1.
READ: LTFRB ready for possible crowding of commuters along unconsolidated routes on Feb. 1
“Those figures are definitely inaccurate,” Guadiz said in line with the transport groups’ claims. He explained that of the 42,000 jeepney franchise holders prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, only 22,000 resumed operations of which more than 21,000 consolidated.
