A weeklong strike has been started by various transport groups including Manibela, Piston, and Laban TNVS. The strike started on March 6, 2023, and will end on March 12, 2023 (Sunday).
Many drivers can't afford the costs of switching to a modernized jeepney
The said transport strike was staged as a response to the jeepney phaseout. The said phaseout, in turn, is connected to the jeepney modernization program being pushed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
To facilitate the said program, jeepney drivers were urged to ditch their traditional jeepneys, and form or join cooperatives. An earlier deadline for this was set on June 30, 2023. More recently, the said deadline was moved to December 31, 2023.
The transport group Piston, however, says that more than delaying the phaseout is needed. In fact, the group wants the jeepney modernization scrapped. This is because many drivers cannot afford to switch to modern jeepneys.
According to Land Bank, a modernized jeepney costs an average of Php 2.2 million to Php 2.4 million. So while these provide plenty of comfort, safety, and onboard amenities to commuters, the amortization is just too expensive for most jeepney drivers. Piston also said that a good chunk of drivers is averse to joining cooperatives and corporations.
Note that a subsidy amounting to Php 160,000 is being offered, but many are saying that this sum is not enough. That said, some officials like Senator Ralph Recto, are pushing to increase the said subsidy.
Modernized Jeepneys
A number of other transport groups, while likewise having qualms about jeepney modernization, have announced that they will not be joining the said strike. According to a report from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), this includes the National Federation of Transport Cooperatives (NFTC), Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), Pasang Masda, UV Express National Alliance of the Philippines (UV Express), and plenty of others.
In response to the weeklong transport strike, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has temporarily suspended number coding for Monday (March 6, 2023). The MMDA has also rolled out its “Libreng Sakay” (Free Ride) vehicles.
Several local government units have likewise rolled out their own vehicles to offer free rides for commuters affected by the transport strike.
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