ILOILO City – As a last-ditch effort to show opposition against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) before the year ends, individual jeepney operators and drivers in Panay Island and the “No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay” will be conducting a two-day rally beginning today, Dec. 27.
Warren Gangoso, president of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay and the Villa Transport Association, said individual jeepney operators and drivers will gather in front of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro district.
“Siling ko ihatag na lang ang tanan sang lubosan, anyway, last stand ta na ini, himuon ta,” Gangoso told Panay News on Tuesday, Dec. 26.
He said the protest may be extended until Dec. 29. But if some of them had to operate their units, considering the holiday expenses, they would allow them to leave the protest encampment.
“Ipakita gid namon ang pagpamatok sa compulsory consolidation. Naga-saramihay na gani kami sang kagastuhanan kag gin-transfer sa pangalan sang cooperative ang amon franchise, ginasika-sika na lang kami kag hambalon nga wala na kamo di sang labot kay na-transfer na sa amon ngalan,” Gangoso said.
He believes that it is a “suicide” for the government, especially the LTFRB, if the phaseout pushes through on Jan. 1, 2024, citing the Luzon area with more than 30,000 jeepneys still unconsolidated.
“It would be suicide for LTFRB to push this PUVMP, kay ngaa? Thirty thousand ang unconsolidated sa Central Luzon,” he said.
Aside from this, Gangoso trusts that the Supreme Court will approve the temporary restraining order (TRO) recently filed, which seeks to halt the implementation of the PUVMP.
The petitioners in the TRO were PISTON chairman Modesto Floranda, Jason Jajilagutan, Bayan Muna party-list coordinator Gaylord Despuez, Para-Advocates for Inclusive Transport member Edric Samonte, No to PUV Phaseout Coalition of Panay member Elmer Forro, and Komyut spokesperson Ma. Flora Cerna.
In the worst-case scenario, Gangoso said members of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition of Panay are willing to stop jeepney operations.
“Ang panawagan ko sa gobyerno sa local and national kag kay Presidente Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. nga tani talupangdon ang biktima, especially nga madugay na kami nagapabatyag. Indi lang nila pagpakita nga basura lang ining mga tawo nga ini kay nagserbisyo man sa ila sang malawig nga tion,” Gangoso said.
LTFRB-6 data showed that 2,509 traditional jeepney units in the region face the impending phaseout on January 2024, if they remain consolidated on or before Dec. 31, 2023.
Here is the breakdown:
* Bacolod City – 1,439
* Iloilo City – 406
* Negros Occidental – 244
* Iloilo province – 232
* Antique, Capiz, Kalibo, and Guimaras – 188
Aside from PUJs, 88 units of UV Express in the region are until now unconsolidated, and below is the breakdown:
* Negros Occidental – 31 units
* Iloilo province – two units
* plying the route of Iloilo-Antique – five units
* plying the route of Iloilo-Aklan – one unit
* Aklan – 36 units
* Capiz – one unit
* plying the route of Roxas City-Aklan – six units
LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III issued the Memorandum Circular No. 2023-051 on Dec. 14. It focuses on the operations of consolidated transport service entities in all routes with applications for consolidation filed on or before Dec. 31, 2023.
The memorandum circular highlights the need to clarify the conditions of the provisional authority after Dec. 31, 2023, following nationwide public consultations and transport forums under the PUVMP.
The modernization of Philippine public transport aims to minimize air pollution and improve public transport safety.
Most jeepneys were not compliant with smoke emission standards.
The guidelines issued in the circular are:
* For Consolidation: All consolidated Transport Service Entities (TSEs) and individual operators with applications for consolidation filed on or before Dec. 31, 2023, will continue to operate under their existing provisional authority (PA). This PA is valid until Dec. 31, 2024, or upon the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), whichever comes first.
* Without Consolidation: On routes without consolidated TSEs, all PAs issued to individual operators will be deemed revoked effective Jan. 1, 2024. The units authorized will not be confirmed for registration as public utility vehicles.
A show cause order will be issued in compliance with the amended Public Service Act.
To ensure an adequate supply of public transport on these routes, separate guidelines will be issued by the board./PN
