Transport group urge PUJ drivers to join strike

A TRANSPORT group is calling on all jeepney drivers and operators to take part in the Tigil-Pasada on Monday, March 19, to protest the government’s intention to phase out old jeepneys in line with its jeepney modernization program.

The Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Northern Mindanao (Starex-Piston) is urging jeepney drivers of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Gingoog, Iligan, and Bukidnon to suspend for a day their usual operations.

"Atong ipakita sa gobyernong Duterte ang kasuko ug sentimyento sa pagbatok sa ginapamugos niining corporate “MURDERization” (modernization) nga moresulta sa pagphaseout sa tanang karaang Jeepney aron ilisan sa E-jeep (solar o electric) ug makinang Euro 4 diin walay laing makabenipisyo niini kun dili ang mga higante ug langyawng negosyo (We will show our dismay that the government is forcing their MURDERization which will result to jeepney phaseout to give way to e-jeep. This move will only benefit big business owners)," Ringo Lago said, Starex-Piston NMR secretary-general.

Lago said the "Transport Pahulay" wishes to send a message to the government that the transport sector needs rehabilitation, not the phaseout of jeepneys.

Lago asked the jeepney drivers to heed their call even for just one day.

“Bisan sa usa lang ka adlaw, atong ipakita pinaagi sa Transport pahulay ang atong pagbatok sa Corporate Murderization (modernization) sa gobyernong Duterte diin hinay-hinay niining patyon ang 5 ka-milyong Pilipino sa tibuok nasud nag-una niini ang mga kabus nga driver, gagmayng operator, conductor, tarbahante sa vulcanizing shop, trabahante sa tindahan sa spare parts, kan-anan ug uban pang katawhan nga nakasandig ug nagasalig sa panginabuhian sa pampasaherong jeep (We will protest and show pur outrage against a policy that will kill 5 million poor Filipino drivers, small operators, workers in vulcanizing shops, among others whose livelihood depends on jeepneys)," Lago said.

The militant group will also launch the "OMG! sa OFG (Oh My God sa Omnibus Franchising Guidelines)" to condemn the Operasyon: Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok, which they see as a tactic to scare jeepney operators and force them to a voluntarily decommission their public utility vehicles (PUVs).

In the city for instance, the group said the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (IACT) has already victimized some 200 drivers and operators in February alone. Penalties for violations range anywhere from P5,000 to P15,000.

“Supak kami sa “Modernisasyon” nga paatras padulong Kamatayon. Pabor kami sa Modernisasyon nga paabante padulong sa nasudnong industriyalisasyon- subsidyo ug pagpalambo sa local nga industriya sa Jeepney, ug dili monopolyo lamang sa pipila ka higante ug langyang negosyante (We are against the kind of modernization which hits the marginalized. We are for modernization which promotes national industrialization, and promotes improvement for thr local industry, not the monopoly of foreign businesses)," he adds.

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