ILOILO City – The Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) is not joining Monday’s nationwide transport strike against the phase out of old jeepneys. It has received a warning from the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) that its registration could be revoked.
Under WVTC are some 2,000 jeepney units affiliated with the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) and transport groups from the municipalities of Dumangas and Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo province, and from the provinces of Antique and Guimaras.
“Daku na ang gasto sang coop. Indi namon pag i-sakripisyo,” said Raymundo Parcon, chairman of WVTC. “So nag-decision kami indi na lang mag upod sa untat byahe.”
WVTC was formed two years ago so that members could comply with the transport modernization program of the government. It is registered with the OTC, the government agency mandated to promulgate and implement rules and regulations that govern the promotion, organization, regulation, supervision, registration through accreditation and development of transportation cooperatives subject to the approval of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Parcon admitted that WVTC was part of several local transport groups that agreed to join the nationwide transport strike on Sept. 30.
Instead of staying off the streets, said Parcon, WVTC would just send a petition letter to the Office of the President, Congress, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFTB), and DOTr expressing opposition to the outright phase out of old jeepneys by July 2020.
Among others, Parcon said, they would ask that instead of requiring operators to purchase modern jeepneys, just allow the rehabilitation of old units (buy new engine if the body is still serviceable), and extend the transition period by three more years.
The Iloilo City Association of Operators and Drivers Cooperative (ICAODC), too, is not joining Monday’s transport holiday, it announced yesterday.
One of the bigger groups under ICAODC is the City Loop Integrated Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (CLIAJODA). Its president Rizalito Alido said they are supportive of the government’s transport modernization program.
Alido is also the secretary general of ICAODC. In a previous interview, he said, “Waay naman ta mahimo. We have to modernize kay ang tanan naga-modernize na gid man to serve the commuting public.”
“Sa umpisa medyo bug-at,” said Alido. But he expressed confidence that OTC would help their cooperative. “Seguro indi man kita pagpabay-an kon nagakalugi kita.”
The government’s move to modernize Philippine public transport aims to minimize air pollution and improve public transport safety.
Modern jeepneys are required to have, among others, Euro 4 engines that meet the European Union emission standards on harmful chemicals (such as toxic sulfur, benzene and carbon dioxide, etc.), Global Positioning System, automatic fare collection system, dashboard camera, speed limiter, and closed-circuit television camera.
Meanwhile, the Association of Taxi Operators in Panay (ATOP) clarified members will not stop operating on Monday.
They support the transport strike but will only be staging a caravan from the Mohon Terminal in Mandurriao district towards LTFRB Region 6 office in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro district in the morning of Sept. 30, stressed ATOP president Perfecto Yap.
FREE RIDES
So as not to inconvenience stranded commuters on Monday, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) to help transport people.
Eighteen city government vehicles would be mobilized. PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu said these would be stationed in public plazas for the easy access of commuters beginning at 6 a.m.
The PSTMO would also be seeking the help of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Army, and Philippine Coast Guard which all have transportation assets.
According to Conlu, his office would also be asking the LTFRB to allow buses to enter the city.
The Iloilo provincial government will offer free rides, too. Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the free transport service will not only be limited to provincial capitol employees.
“We will also cater to regular passengers,” he said during the coordination meeting with concerned department heads and national government agencies yesterday.
The governor reviewed their contingency measures and checked on how they can assist the province in minimizing the effect of the strike.
For the provincial government, 24 light vehicles and 7 trucks will be stationed in city transport terminals (barangays Ungka and Tagbak in Jaro, and Barangay Mohon in Mandurriao) in the morning to pick up provincial passengers.
The Emergency Responders of Iloilo (EROI) will also be on standby to man the terminals.
But it will be business as usual at the provincial capitol. There will be a regular flag ceremony on Monday.
Employees who will report late may not use the bundy clock to log in. Others who will be absent can maximize their leave credits.
Personnel of the Provincial Health Office and the 13 province-run hospitals will also be on standby./PN
