Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 17) — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday said it is prepared for the three-day strike next week by transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON).
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, LTFRB spokesperson Celine Pialago said special permits will be issued to drivers and operators to ply the 8-12 routes to be affected by the strike even if those are outside their regular area. Local governments will also provide free rides, she added.
PISTON on Thursday said around 100,000 drivers and operators are expected to join the strike to protest the consolidation of jeepneys under the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program.
Around 7,000 from Pasig, Taguig, and Pateros on Friday have expressed their intention to join the protest.
According to Pialago, LTFRB chairman Teofolo Guadiz met his regional directors and concluded that the strike will not have a big impact.
\”But then again our chairperson appealed to them yesterday to stop their planned strike. If they will positively respond then well and good but if they will still go on this, it is still possible for them to lose their franchise or their franchise will be suspended,\” she warned.
Pialago explained that it is not necessary for transport groups to complete the consolidation by Dec. 31. What is important is they start the process which will allow them to operate even beyond the deadline, she noted.
She also said the modernization program does not intend to phase out traditional jeepneys as long as they are roadworthy.
Latest data from the LTFRB showed that 56% or 96,000 of the 170,000 jeepneys across the country have already consolidated. In Metro Manila alone, 25% of the 44,000 jeepney units were already consolidated.
