Acting chairman Thomas Orbos of the Metro Manila Development Authority on Wednesday urged jeepney drivers and operators not to push through with their planned three-day nationwide strike in protest against the proposed phaseout of old jeepneys.
“We can talk and discuss this. There is no sense in prolonging, adding the agony to the people. Let’s sit down and discuss what the problem is,” said Orbos in a forum in Makati City.
The MMDA chief made the appeal after Stop and Go Coalition president Jun Magno announced they are planning to hold a three-day nationwide protest against the government’s proposal to phase out old diesel-engine jeepneys and replace them with modern and environment- friendly public utility vehicles.
“There will be a three-day transport holiday. This is again to protest the government’s plan to modernize and phase out [old] jeepneys,” said Magno over GMA News.
Magno, however, refused to say when the strikes will take place.
Orbos, on the other hand, assured the public that the government is prepared for any eventuality if the jeepney drivers and operators pushes through with the transport holiday.
“We had the two strikes already. The government is always prepared and we already know what to do,” he said.
Late last month, thousands of commuters were affected by the nationwide transport strike staged by various jeepney drivers and operators organizations, not only in Metro Manila, but also in various provinces.
Among the affected areas were the southern part of Metro Manila, the cities of Marikina and Pasig in the eastern metro; Commonwealth Avenue, Tandang Sora, Mindanao Avenue, and the district of Fairview, all in Quezon City; Taft Avenue, España, Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Recto and Sta. Cruz, all in Manila, and Monumento and Grace Park in Caloocan City.
A number of passengers were either forced to walk or take a taxi.
Commuters in nearby provinces of Laguna, Bulacan and Cavite were also stranded forcing them to walk or find other mode of transportation like tricycles to get to their offices.
A number of tricycle drivers took advantage of the situation and charged passengers P20 instead of the usual P9 minimum fare for tricycle.
Classes in Metro Manila, both in public and private, were also canceled because of the transport holiday.
But Orbos said the February strike failed “despite the harassment, intimidation and force utilized by the hardliners against those who just wanted to earn their living driving their jeeps.”
“It failed because it was based on deception by their leaders,” said Orbos, adding that government personnel made ocular inspections in areas where there were reports of disruption and had dialogue with several groups who joined the strike.
“Apparently there were a lot of misrepresentations made by their leaders which were clarified. These members vowed not to join future strikes and participate in dialogue with the government,” he added.
A similar transport strike staged earlier in February caused hundreds of passengers to be stranded, and prompted some schools to cancel classes.
Under the modernization program, the Department of Transportation will impose a 15-year age limit on public utility jeepneys (PUJs) as it aims to modernize the fleet of jeepneys plying the roads through a low carbon and low emission vehicle technology.
Standards on carbon emission and fleet management and maintenance would also be imposed to ensure passenger safety, and improve air quality.
To address operators’ and drivers’ concern of undue economic burden from having to purchase brand new jeepney units, the government would allow them to apply for loans from the Development Bank of the Philippines. The DOTr would set up a guarantee fund to securers of the loan package.