ILOILO City – Western Visayas transport groups are not participating in the nationwide transport strike on Oct. 16. The protest targets alleged corruption in the approval of public utility vehicles (PUVs) franchises.
Raymundo Parcon, president of the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC), said joining such a protest contradicts their mandate as cooperatives registered under the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
“We are not participating in the proposed transport strike because we are registered with the CDA and the office of the transport cooperatives. Strikes or protests of this nature are not permissible for us,” Parcon told Panay News.
Despite being supportive of the PUV modernization program, which means they refrain from opposing government initiatives, Parcon expressed his personal reservations about potential corruption in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
He specifically pointed out the P3-billion fuel subsidy, of which most WVTC members have yet to benefit.
Parcon is apprehensive about a repeat of the previous year when, from a P2.8-billion subsidy budget, only a little over P4 million reached operators in the region.
“Numerous operators, even locally, have lodged complaints about not receiving their subsidy,” he said.
In the same vein, the Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI) confirmed they will not stage a strike.
“We guarantee our government at both provincial and local levels that the Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. will remain uninvolved. We are concerned about our commuters and the potential economic repercussions,” Rizalito Alido, WVATCCI president, commented during an Aksyon Radyo Iloilo interview.
Alido said there are formal channels to convey grievances or issues to the government, such as filing a petition to the Office of the President. He also suspects that the corruption allegations have merit, mentioning that corrupt practices are rampant within the LTFRB, extending even to its regional offices.
Meanwhile, during a press conference on Monday, Oct. 9, Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena announced that they anticipate around 240,000 traditional jeepneys will join the strike. He confirmed commitments from all their members, especially those in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon. These members include drivers and operators of passenger jeepneys, UV Express, and multicabs.
“This will potentially be the government’s largest transport strike. Protests are planned outside the LTFRB, Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Malacañang,” Valbuena stated.
Clarifying their position, he added, “Our dispute is not with the government but against corruption which affects our fellow Filipinos. We hope the President will address this matter decisively.”
Manibela also introduced a whistleblower regarding the alleged corrupt practices in the PUV franchise approvals.
Valbuena acknowledged the challenges faced by their members in obtaining PUV franchises. (With a report from Manila Bulletin)/PN
