BACOLOD City – Two major transport groups here are set to join the nationwide strike on Monday to show their continuous protest against the proposed phase out of jeepneys and UV Express vehicles next year.
The Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Negros and Federation Bacolod City Drivers Association issued a joint statement slamming the “impossible” requirements of the government for its public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
Both groups strongly said purchasing modernized jeepneys in line with the government’s upgrade bid worth at least P2.4 million would burden many small-time operators and would put them in debt.
Another issue also being protested by the groups is the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) plans to consolidate the franchises by way of forming corporation which will give way for the control of all PUVs in the country.
SSTONE and Febacda claimed that under the LTFRB’s modernization bid, all transport cooperatives will ultimately be abolished and subsumed by the corporations.
They further claimed several transport cooperatives have already met a host of problems such as the unavailability of spare parts, thereby affecting their income and burying them deeper in bank debts.
“We are not against modernization but the cost of the Class 3 vehicles is too expensive and beyond the reach of their drivers and operators,” the two transport groups stressed./PN
