LTFRB Tells Transport Groups to Reconsider Transport Strike Plans

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) appealed to transport groups to reconsider the planned major transport strike scheduled on September 30.

This as transport group Pinag-isang Lakas Ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) is set in holding a transport strike by Monday.

The said group staged a protest yesterday, denouncing the recent big-time oil price hike.

The government agency urged the transport groups to halt the planned protest as such a move will inconvenience the riding public and may jeopardize public safety.

The statement from the agency reminded operators and drivers that staging such is "in direct violation of the provisions contained in their franchise."

"Those who will participate in the activity may face suspension or even cancellation and revocation of franchise," the LTFRB noted in its statement.

The statement further said that back in November 2010, a city-wide transport strike, similar to the plans of ACTO and PISTON, was held by various bus companies which resulted to the abandonment of their routes and led to the cancellation of franchise of more than 200 bus units from Jell Transport and Corinthian Liner.

Instead, the LTFRB invited all transport groups, cooperatives, operators, and drivers from all modes of transportation to instead have a dialogue with the agency in order to discuss pressing issues and concerns on the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) without resorting to such disruptive actions.

"The LTFRB, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Office for Transport Cooperatives (OTC) will persevere in giving our riding public a safe and comfortable public transport through the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP)," the agency further stated.

Earlier, PISTON President Mody Floranda said that public transport drivers, commuters, as well as private vehicle owners all alike are hounded by the price movement, to add to the traffic issues and the ongoing threat of phase out of jeepneys and other public utility vehicles.

"It's an outrage that we are being forced to bear another oil price hike when we can't even get our money's worth from the fuel we buy daily because of the massive traffic jams. Many PUV drivers earn less and less daily because of the traffic as they are forced to make fewer trips. Another oil price hike will add more injury to our already considerable suffering," Floranda said.

The group is preparing for a transport strike by the end of this month.