SENATOR Grace Poe has appealed to the transportation sector to call off their planned nationwide transport strike in protest to the looming jeepney phaseout.
In a statement on Saturday, Poe said she will call for an urgent senate hearing to discuss the appeals of the transportation sector on the proposed jeepney modernization program, in the light of the announced transport strike on December 4 and 5.
"I am appealing to the transport groups Piston and the Stop Jeepney Phaseout Coalition to reconsider and call off their planned strike and instead sit down with us in the committee so that the senate can hear their concerns regarding the proposed jeepney modernization program," Poe said.
The senator said she will file a resolution this Monday for the senate committee on public services to meet with the concerned agencies on December 7, adding that she understands that there are still issues in the program that still needs to be examined by the transportation sector.
"We hope this could be done during the committee hearing. We also want to hear the alternative proposals from different stakeholders," she added.
The planned transport strike is the fourth protest action of jeepney drivers against the jeepney modernization program.
Last Octover, Piston led a two-day strike prompting MalacaƱang to suspend work and classes nationwide. (SunStar Philippines)