MANILA, December 12 ------ Transport group PISTON announced Monday plans to stage another transport strike from December 14-15. The group is demanding that the LTFRB reconsider its decision to implement the Dec 31 consolidation deadline.
PISTON national president Mody Floranda earlier warned the transport strike could be extended depending on the government's answer. "Magkakaroon ng transport strike ang Piston bago matapos ang 2023 sapagkat naka-deadline hanggang December 31 na lamang yung ating public transport, yung ating mga jeepney," he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview. "Pwedeng humaba yan at magdi-depensa yan sa sagot ng gobyerno. Sana ay mapakinggan tayo ng pamahalaan, lalo na si BBM dito sa kahilingan ng mga driver at operator na manatili pa sa kanilang paghahanap-buhay at pagse-serbisyo sa ating mamamayan," he added.
Floranda warned of an impending transport crisis if traditional jeepneys are no longer allowed to register with the LTFRB. "Pag-aralan nila kung ano 'yung magiging epekto nito sa hindi lamang sa hanay ng driver/operator kundi sa ating ekonomiya at sa ating mamamayan sapagkat. May effect saa ting ekonomiya kapag nawala ang mga traditional jeepney," he said.
PISTON said it is confident they could paralyze the traffic in the National Capital Region with the numbers of their members planning to join the strike. “Malaking bahagi ng National Capital Region ay ma(apektuhan) ng paralisasyon sapagkat marami na nagpaabot satin (na sasama. Kahit hindi natin lokal na nagpaabot na sila ay lalahok ngayong darating na transport strike sapagkat yung pangamba nila na mawawalan sila kabuhayan,” Floranda said.
The group claims around 100,000 members to join the strike. PISTON's members' route includes major Quezon City thoroughfares such as Commonwealth Avenue and E Rodriguez. Members from Rizal, Alabang, and Manila are also expected to participate. However, PISTON warns that their two-day transport strike may be extended if the government maintains that the consolidation provision under the PUV modernization project remains. “Syempre yung mga probinsya at lalawigan na lalahok din dito sa magaganap na transport strike… At sabi nga natin may posiblidad ito na lumawig yung pagkilos na ito, lalo na sa kalagayan na hindi tinugunan ng gobyerno yung ating pangunahing demand,” Floranda said.
The group is asking for the public's understanding as they admit it will impact the traffic flow during the Christmas rush. The strike will also fall on a payday Friday. "Sa ngayon po ay humaharap tayo sa Christmas season. Kami po ay nananawagan sa ating mga mamamayan na sana po ay unawain at unawain itong kalagayn ng ating sekto. Ang layunin nito ay manatili ang kabuhayan at maayos na serbisyo sa ating mga mamayan. Ang laban po ng driver at operator ay laban ng mga mamamayang Pilipino," said Floranda. The government stands on its decision not to move the consolidation deadline beyond December 31, 2023. This provision of consolidating or joining a cooperative is also "non-negotiable."
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is yet to issue a response to the new transport strike announced by PISTON.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com