Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 3) — Drivers and operators may join or skip the nationwide transport strike set next week, the national president of transport group Piston (Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide) said on Friday.
“Voluntary ang ating mga driver at mga operator na sila yung magtatakda kung lalahok sila o hindi. Kung hindi sila lalahok, walang problema yun,” Pistion national president Mody Floranda told CNN Philippines New Day.
[Translation: Drivers and operators will decide voluntarily whether or not they will join. If they will not join, it won’t be a problem.]
“Ang sa atin lang ay para maipakita ang aming kasalukuyan na kalagayan sa public transpo [dahil] ang usapin dito ay kabuhayan at karapatan natin bilang nasa serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan,” Floranda added.
[Translation” Our goal is to show our current situation in our public transportation, because the issue here is our livelihood and rights as someone providing service to our citizens.]
Earlier, some transport groups said they are opting out of the strike, including the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO,) which cited concerns of losing their franchise and risking drivers’ safety.
“Sinasabi naman nila [ACTO members] sa akin na hindi sila sasama, iniisip nila baka mamaya batuhin daw sila kaya nananawagan ako wala pong pilitan,” ACTO President Liberty de Luna previously told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
[Translation: What they are telling me is that they will not join because they worry they might get hurt during the strike, so let’s not force those who are not joining us.]
Meanwhile, in separate statements, several transport groups in the Cordillera Administrative Region expressed support for the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
They also said they opted not to join next week’s strike.
“Naniniwala po kami na ang layunin ng PUVMP ay para sa ikabubuti ng aming hanay sa transportasyon, para sa mas komportableng mga sasakyan at mas magandang serbisyo sa ating mananakay at sa ikabubuti ng kalikasan,” the Baguio Transport Corporation said.
[Translation: We believe that the goals of the PUVMP is for the wellness of the transportation sector, for providing commuter a good and comfortable ride and for the wellness of the environment.]
In Cebu, transport group Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives (FCTC) said it will not participate in the strike.
The group added it is ready to deploy modern jeepneys should the authorities seek its help on March 6.
FCTC is composed of 16 cooperatives in Metro Cebu area with over 600 units already operating mostly in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay.
Piston-Cebu said it will just hold a protest rally but will not join the week-long transport holiday.
According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Don Artes, police officers and military personnel will be deployed for security measures.
“Ang concern ng hindi sasama sa tigil-pasada ay may mga instances kasi na hinaharang sila ng raliyista, bubutasin ang kanilang gulong. Yun lang ang kanilang concern sa kanilang di pagsama dito sa welga na ito ay maproteksyunan sila sa kanilang pagbiyahe,” Artes said.
[Translation: The concern of those who will join the transport strike is that there are instances where they are blocked by the rallyists, and their tires are pierced. Their only concern is their safety during their trip amid the transport strike.]
Shifting to online classes, providing free rides and the plan to temporarily suspend the number coding scheme are some of the countermeasures being considered to cushion the impact of the nationwide transportation strike next week.\r
“Sinasabi naman nila [ACTO members] sa akin na hindi sila sasama, iniisip nila baka mamaya batuhin daw sila kaya nananawagan ako wala pong pilitan,” ACTO president Liberty de Luna previously told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
[Translation: What they are telling me is that they will not join because they worry they might get hurt during the strike, so let’s not force those who are not joining us.]
Meanwhile, in separate statements, seven transport groups in the Cordillera Administrative Region expressed support for the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
They also said they opted not to join the nationwide strike to be conducted next week.
“Naniniwala po kami na ang layunin ng PUVMP ay para sa ikabubuti ng aming hanay sa transportasyon, para sa mas komportableng mga sasakyan at mas magandang serbisyo sa atin mananakay at sa ikabubuti ng kalikasa,” Baguio Transport Corporation said.
[Translation: We believe that the goals of the PUVMP is for the wellness of the transportation sector, for providing commuter a good and comfortable ride and for the wellness of the environment.]
In Cebu, transport group Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives (FCTC) said it will not participate in the strike.
The group added it is ready to deploy modern jeepneys should the authorities seek its help on March 6.
FCTC is composed of 16 cooperatives in Metro Cebu area with over 600 units already operating mostly in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay.
Piston-Cebu said it will just hold a protest rally but will not join the week-long transport holiday.
According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Don Artes, police officers and military personnel will be deployed for security measures.
“Ang concern ng hindi sasama sa tigil-pasada ay may mga instances kasi na hinaharang sila ng raliyista, bubutasin ang kanilang gulong. Yun lang ang kanilang concern sa kanilang di pagsama dito sa welga na ito ay maproteksyunan sila sa kanilang pagbiyahe,” Artes said.
[Translation: The concern of those who will join the transport strike is that there are instances where they are blocked by the rallyists, and their tires are pierced. Their only concern is their safety during their trip amid the transport strike.]
Shifting to online classes, providing free rides and the plan to temporarily suspend the number coding scheme are some of the countermeasures being considered to cushion the impact of the nationwide transportation strike next week.
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