A COALITION of transport groups appealed to the government not to phase out the public utility jeepneys (PUJs) even if the planned bus system will push through in Davao City.
Transmission-Piston (Piston) on Monday, September 30, held a picket rally along McArthur Highway in Balusong, Matina to protest the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Under the modernization program, jeepney operators with 15-year-old vehicles should replace their units with ones that comply with Euro-4 standards by July 1, 2020.
Meanwhile, the city will have the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) that aims to modernize the transportation system in the city and address the growing need for mass transit to solve traffic congestion.
Piston secretary general Larry Arguilles said, "Ang panawagan namo is usa ka win-win solution nalang, nga dili i-phase out ang mga PUJ. Daghang ma-displace nga ka-igsuunang drivers nato niana (We are calling for a win-win solution here, that is not to phase out PUJs. Many drivers and operators will be displaced)."
He said the group urged the local government to allow the PUJs to operate despite having buses operating on the streets, unlike in the national wherein PUJ operators are worried since the PHABS will "fully phase out" all existing PUJs in the city.
He also said bus drivers and operators cannot afford to purchase buses which ranged between P7 million to P13 million, despite forming a cooperative.
LTFRB Davao Regional Director Armand Dioso said they already conducted a series of consultations regarding the proposed implementation of the PUV modernization program and HPBS.
"We respect their right to express their rights to express their sentiment. But we also urged them to respect the program of the President (Rodrigo Duterte) which aims for the safety and convenience of the riding public," Dioso told reporters.
He said the government has assistance programs allocated for affected drivers and operators.
The DOTr and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) recently launched the Tsuper Iskolar Program in the region, under which it will provide skills and entrepreneurship training to 1,000 qualified beneficiaries.
Dioso, however, said the implementation has yet to be finalized as they are finalizing the data of affected operators and drivers.
In a previous report, the PUV modernization program will affect 8,216 PUJs and filcab, also known as multicab, operators in Davao Region alone. Of the number, 7,261 PUJ/Filcab operators are from Davao City.
Although he admitted that not all will be accommodated, he said the government has other programs intended for them.
Contrary to Arguilles' claims, forming a cooperative would be more convenient since it will fast-track the renewal of their franchise and the allocation of assistance.
Meanwhile, the protest was also held simultaneously in other parts of the country with the nationwide transport strike, which stranded some passengers.
Piston chairman Charito Junares said the city was not able to participate in the strike since drivers and operators were not properly informed.
Roberto (name withheld), one of the PUJ drivers who did not participate in the rally, said he already accepted the government's plan of the modernization program.
"Dawaton nalang nato nga ma-phase out ta, kung mao gyud gusto nila (We already accepted that we are going to be phased-out, if they are really decided on that)," Roberto said.