ABOUT 12,000 drivers across Northern Mindanao are fearing the loss of their livelihood once the old jeepneys are phased out due to the government's transport modernization program.
This apprehension forces transport groups in the region to take to the streets their oppositions against the looming jeepney phase-out.
The No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition staged on Wednesday, January 24, a picket rally outside the regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Northern Mindanao and forward their position paper to register their demands and calls to the Duterte administration.
LTFRB Regional Director Aminoden Guro greeted the demonstrators and spared time to listen to the sentiments of the drivers and operators.
In their petition, the group said the government's modernization program will only take away the source of income of half a million drivers, 250,000 small operators and two million families nationwide.
"Pabor kami sa tinuoray nga modernisasyon nga manukad sa rehabilitasyon ug pagpalambo sa sektor alang sa luwas, episyente, barato ug pangmasa. Apan supak kami sa modernisasyon nga nagapabor lamang sa mga higanteng lokal ug langyaw nga negosyo," reads part of the petition.
Ringo Lago, secretary-general of Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Northern Mindanao-Pinagkaisang Samahan mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Starex-Piston), said the government is introducing a million-peso solar-powered, electric jeep and euro 4 engines of which majority of the local drivers could not afford.
Lago said that even if the drivers and operators will form cooperatives or avail financial loans, this will also not suffice because of the high monthly amortization which they will shoulder within seven years.
Guro said the LTFRB will accredit transport cooperatives as he urged operators to start creating one since the government offers support and financial loan assistance.
"They can create another cooperative kung kana nga ruta wala pay coop. One coop, one route, one franchise," Guro said.
Guro said this year is the start of the transition period for the implementation of the modernization program in 2021.
He said his office will not accept new franchise application for jeepneys but will renew expired franchise, which is only valid until 2021.
"Wala tay new application kay naa may moratorium," Guro said.
The group said the three-year transition period is a deceiving method of the government to phase out jeepneys through the "Tanggal bulok, Tanggal usok" operation.
Transport groups are calling on the LTFRB to scrap the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines under its Department Order 2017-11; put an end to the continuing "Tanggal bulok, Tanggal usok" operations; and push for rehabilitation and government subsidy instead of monopoly of the transport sector.