Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) — The government remains firm on the December 31 deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicles despite the ongoing strike by transport groups.
The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and various transport groups on Thursday held a dialogue amid the two-day protest action.
\”Giniit ng LTFRB na wala na sa kamay nito ang desisyon sa pagpapaliban ng December 31 deadline dahil nagsalita na raw si Marcos Jr. tungkol dito,\” the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) said in a statement.
[Translation: The LTFRB insisted that the decision to postpone the December 31 deadline is out of its hands because (President Ferdinand) Marcos Jr. has already spoken about this.]
\”Malinaw na walang pakialam ang gobyerno ni Marcos Jr. sa libo-libong kabuhayang papatayin nito pagsapit ng Enero 2024,\” it added.
[Translation: It is clear that the government of Marcos Jr. does not care about killing thousands of livelihoods by January 2024.]
The president earlier said the Dec. 31 deadline will not be extended as 70% of operators have already consolidated.
But PISTON countered such claim insisting that many operators have yet to meet the requirements for the government’s modernization program.
During the dialogue, the LTFRB said the transport groups sought assistance for jeepney rehabilitation and to issue a memorandum circular written in Filipino.
Furthermore, the agency reiterated to the other party that there will be no jeepney phaseout and traditional jeepneys can still ply their route as long as they are roadworthy.
