Bacolod City – Majority of transport groups in Bacolod City did not join the nationwide transport strike yesterday, except for the newly organized Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD).
It was business as usual for drivers in Bacolod City today, according to Jun Asis, secretary general of the Samahan Ng Mga Tsuper at Operators Negros (SSTONE).
A statement issued by the Bacolod City Public Information Office quoted Asis as saying that instead of a transport strike, a prayer rally will be held by SSTONE, Federation of Bacolod Drivers Association (FEBACDA), and United Negros Drivers Operators Center (UNDOC), to thank Mayor Alfredo Benitez for his help extended to the transport sector.
Meanwhile, BACOD secretary general Lilian Sembrano, in an interview, said that they will participate in the nationwide transport strike.
BACOD is opposing the operation of modernized jeepneys, claiming that it will affect the source of livelihood of traditional PUVs and passenger tricycles.
Transport groups PISTON and MANIBELA are leading the transport in Metro Manila from March 6 to 12, in protest of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, (PUVMP), although other groups said they would not participate.
The June 30 deadline for the consolidation of guidelines – not the phase out of traditional jeepney units – has been moved to Dec. 31.
“The deadline is for the consolidation, urging the drivers to come together, consolidate as one, and start the formation as a cooperative in pursuit of the modernization,” disclosed earlier by LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III.
While he justified the implementation of PUVMP, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said it needs more discussions among stakeholders, particularly jeepney drivers’ groups.
He said the PUV modernization program needs to be implemented “in a different way.” (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS) with reports from Philippine News Agency, photo courtesy of TVDS)