Transport group says strike ‘paralyzed’ some Davao City routes

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 27) — Davao-based transport group Transmission-PISTON on Wednesday said it has paralyzed some routes in the city, as it held a strike against the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program and a local bus project.

“As of 7 a.m., 90% of Matina Aplaya and Matina Crossing routes are paralyzed. Moreover, it is estimated that 80% of the Toril route is in paralysis,” Transmission-PISTON said.

Just four days before the deadline for the franchise consolidation for the PUV modernization program in the capital region, the transport group started its protest at Ma-a, Davao City. But they said they were forced to transfer to Freedom Park at Roxas Avenue as cops were present during their action to express support for their fellow drivers and operators in Metro Manila.

“Kahit inihayag ng LTFRB Region XI na hindi raw kasama ang Davao City sa nationwide phaseout dahil sa 2025 pa ang pagpapatupad ng nasabing implementasyon nito sa lungsod, ito ay isang malaking kasinungalingan dahil susundin pa rin ng lokal na pamahalaan ang Executive Order na inilabas ni (Pangulong Ferdinand) Marcos Jr. na hindi na ire-renew ang provisional authority para sa prangkisa ng mga lumang PUV sa nakalipas na taon,” Anakbayan UP Mindanao said.

[Translation: Despite LTFRB Region XI’s announcement that the nationwide phaseout in Davao City will be in 2025, this is still not being followed by the LGU. This is a big lie because the Davao City government is following Marcos Jr’s EO, which states that there will no longer be a renewal of provisional authority for traditional PUV franchises.]

READ: Permits of unconsolidated PUV operators to be revoked on New Year's Day – LTFRB

One of their main concerns is the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) or the Davao Bus Project of the local government.

Anakbayan UP Mindanao said Wednesday that over 6,000 Davao City drivers and operators will lose their jobs when the Davao Bus Project and the PUVM proceed.

In June this year, Davao City secured funding amounting to $1 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help finance the acquisition of 1,100 modern buses. According to the ADB, this is a flagship project under the Build, Build, Build program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Davao City LGU.

Based on the 2022 proposal plan of DOTr and ADB, the HPBS will be the “bus-based public transport system” that will “significantly reduce the number of public transport vehicles on the roadways” including PUVs. The project will consist of a 100-kilometer (km) “core bus network” and a 500km “feeder network”

“HPBS would replace the existing jeepney network with a four-tier (MetroDavao, DavaoInter, DavaoFeeder, and DavaoLocal), 29-route network operating with larger buses (including 18m articulated and 12m bus units),” it added.

READ:

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Meanwhile, 73.5% or over 31,000 traditional jeeps in Metro Manila have yet to consolidate before the Dec. 31 franchise consolidation deadline.