Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 2) — A lawmaker has filed a resolution urging the House Transportation Committee to investigate the “adverse socioeconomic” impact of the impending jeepney phaseout.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda filed the resolution on Feb. 27, following the week-long, nationwide transport strike that some transport groups are planning starting March 6.
Should the resolution be adopted, the House of Transportation Committee will scrutinize Memorandum Circular 2013-013, which orders traditional jeepneys, multicabs and UV Express to join a cooperative or form a corporation.
“The same Memorandum Circular is not accompanied by a study, or by an impact and contingency analysis,” the resolution read. “The sudden phaseout ignores the reality that among provinces, PUJs (public utility jeepneys) remain the primary mode of public transport between municipalities.”
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board earlier extended the deadline from June 30 to Dec. 31 for traditional jeepney franchise consolidation.
However, Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena told CNN Philippines that the strike will push through until the government junks the planned jeepney phaseout and mandatory consolidation.
“Maliit na tagumpay lamang ito [extension of PUJs franchise consolidation deadline],” Piston national president Mody Floranda said in a statement.
[Translation:The extension of PUJs franchise consolidation is just a small victory.]
“Pero hindi tayo titigil sa pagpoprotesta dahil ang panawagan natin sa gobyerno ay itigil at repasuhin ang PUVMP (Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program) at ibalik ang mga indibidwal na prangkisa ng mga jeepney operator, hindi extension ng deadline,” he added.
