CLARK FREEPORT -- Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ensure that drivers and operators who will participate in the nationwide transport strike on Monday will be held liable for their actions.
Piston and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) have organized a transport strike on September 30 in objection of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.
“Ang prangkisa, pribilehiyo ‘yan at hindi karapatan. Nakasaad sa pribilehiyong ‘yan ang responsibilidad ng operator na bigyan ng komportableng biyahe ang kanyang pasahero. Kung magtitigil pasada sila, sinong kawawa? Pasahero. Sana maisip nila ‘yon (A franchise is a privilege and not a right. It is noted in that privilege that the operator is responsible in giving the passenger a comfortable ride. If they will stop, who will suffer? Passengers. I hope they think of that),” Tugade said.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTFRB thanked transport groups and cooperatives that expressed support to the PUV Modernization Program and other organizations that will not join the strike.
The DOTr and LTFRB assured coordination with other government agencies and local government units for contingency measures to mitigate the effects of the strike and help the riding public.
The LTFRB meanwhile revoked the Certificates of Public Convenience or CPC of 20 PUV operators who joined a transport strike which was led by PISTON in 2017.
LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III said the drivers’ action is in violation of LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2011-004.
“Ang paglahok sa anumang klaseng protesta na magdudulot ng abala sa mga pasahero ay isang paghamak sa prangkisang iginawad ng pamahalaan sa mga operator (Joining any form of protest which will cause inconvenience to passengers is a mockery to the franchise granted by the government to operators),” Delgra said.
“Lumabag sila noon, harapin nila ang kinahinatnan ngayon. Hindi kami mangingiming ipatupad ang kautusang ito dahil hindi isinaalang-alang ng mga nagtigil-pasada ang kapakanan ng mga pasahero. Ang laki ng aberyang dinulot nito sa publiko (They violated it then so they face the repercussions now. We will not hesitate to implement the order because operators do not consider the inconvenience brought about by the protesters to passengers and the public),” he added.