Transport group says 7-day strike impractical

A TRANSPORTgroup will not be joining any planned transport strike among public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Davao City next week.

Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Operators Cooperative (Semdoc) President Maning Duran confirmed to SunStar Davao on Friday, March 3, that none of their members will be participating in a strike set Monday, March 6.

This, as transport groups, particularly in Metro Manila, will be having a one-week transport strike to protest the government's PUV Modernization Program.

Duran said they can't afford to skip a day not operating as it would be a huge loss on their part.

"Kanang pito ka adlaw nga strike, dako kaayo na nga lugi. Kung isa ka adlaw ra na, basin pwede pa, pero pito ka araw, unsa na lang kaunon sa among pamilya ana? (The seven-day transport strike is not practical. If it is just for a day, maybe we’ll participate but if it’s a week-long strike, what will happen to the families that are depending on us?)," he said.

The transport leader also does not see the point and neccessity why the strike would last for a week.

"Di na makatabang sa among miyembro, sa tinuod lang (To be honest, it will do our members more harm than good)," he added.

He also said that it would also have a huge impact on the riding community.

"Ang pasahero mura na namo nang pamilya, pati nang mga trabahante. Luoy pud sila, (We care for the commuting public)," the leader said.

Duran said they understand the government's mandate to improve the transportation sector, but he said the program will affect their livelihood.

He said the Davao City government has been assertive in the implementation of the High Priority Bus System (HPBS), to the point that the local government would "totally remove" public utility jeepney (PUJ) from the streets.

"Lain man ang kampanya sa LGU sa Davao. Di mi uyon ana," Duran said.

As of writing, the Semdoc leader said many of their members had already quit driving on the streets and decided to scout for other means of livelihood due to the continuous rising of fuel prices and other expenses of maintaining their units.

In a short text message to SunStar Davao, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Davao Region Nonito Llaños III said they have not received any reports of any transport groups planning to stage a strike in the city.

SunStar Davao also reached out to Transmission-Piston if they will be joining the strike, but they have not responded as of writing.

LTFRB has given individual operators of traditional jeepneys until December 31, 2023, to join a cooperative or corporation for them to be granted a provisional authority for franchise or else they will no longer be allowed to operate.

In a press conference on March 1, 2023, LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said they will be issuing a new memorandum circular for the extension of the PUV franchise consolidation until the end of the year.

Guadiz said this is in response to the clamor of the transport sector, but he denied that the move was made to stop the looming one-week strike of PUV drivers and operators starting March 6.