JEEPNEY drivers in Cagayan de Oro City continued with their normal operations, as they ignored the nationwide transport strike on Monday, September 30.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Northern Mindanao lauded the drivers and operators in the locality for listening to its call not to participate in Monday's nationwide transport strike, otherwise they would face disapproval of their franchise application.
LTFRB-Northern Mindanao Director Aminoden Guro said he earlier talked to the local transport groups and warned them that participating in the strike could cost them of their franchise approval.
Guro said the organizers of the strike -- Piston, Pasang Masda and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization -- do not have any member from Cagayan de Oro.
"Probably, among the reasons why the strike did not push through in Cagayan de Oro and elsewhere in the region. Dako kaayo ko'g pasalamat sa mga transport groups nga wala mosalmot kay at least nalantaw nila nga ang modernization dili lang para sa ila, but sa tanan sumasakay," Guro said.
Jeepney driver Frank Ello, for his part, said he did not join the strike because this would mean no income for the day.
"Mga pobre man mga driver diri, walay kan-on kung walay byahe," he said.
Guro said the transport groups' submission to his calls signified that they now understand the government's campaign on jeepney modernization.
At present, 50 routes have been approved in the region for the implementation of Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, while drivers and operators have started forming cooperatives.
Formation of a cooperative will allow them to borrow a loan from the government's financing institution and purchase a modern public utility vehicles (PUV).
Earlier this month, the modern PUV Caravan was held in Cagayan de Oro.
During the caravan, the public, as well as jeepney drivers and operators had a glimpse of the future of public transportation in the country with the display of compliant and modernized PUV units, which would ply routes in and out of the region.