CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Dennis Pineda yesterday declared a suspension of classes in the province due to the scheduled transport strike today, September 30.
Pineda, on his official Facebook page, stated that his order covers all levels in both public and private schools to prevent students from being stranded going to and from their campuses.
Recently, two transport groups namely PISTON and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization have announced their plan to stage a nationwide transport strike as a protest against the government's Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
PISTON-Gitnang Luzon Coordinator Allan Bonifacio told SunStar Pampanga that members of the group in the region, mostly in Pampanga, will also participate in the said transport strike.
The said modernization program aims to phase out jeepneys which are 15 years and older and replace them with vehicles that are Euro 4 compliant and can run on renewable energy.
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) over the weekend already warned operators and drivers who will join the transport strike.
DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade directed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to penalize drivers and operators who will participate in the strike.
"Ang prankisa pribilehiyo yan at hindi karapatan. Nakasaad sa pribilehiyong yan ang responsibilidad ng operator na bigyan ng komportableng biyahe ang kanyang mga pasahero. Kung magtitigil pasada sila, sinong kawawa? Pasahero. Sana maiisip nila yon," Tugade said.