MODERNIZED JEEPNEY. A modernized passenger jeepney that plies a route in Nueva Ecija. The deployment of similar jeepneys is under the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program which is strongly supported by many transport groups in Central Luzon. (PNA file photo)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – At least 43 transport service cooperatives in Central Luzon on Thursday assured the public that they will not join the three-day transport strike next week.
Leaders of transport service cooperatives from the provinces of Bataan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga said they are strongly opposed to the planned transport group strike to be led by the group Manibela starting on Monday.
The first day of the strike will coincide with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) as a show of protest against the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
“Sa kabila ng mga banta at balak na malawakang transport strike, ang mga kooperatiba sa Gitnang Luzon ay nagpahayag ng kanilang tuloy-tuloy na serbisyo sa mga mananakay at buong suporta sa public utility vehicle modernization program (Amid the threat and plan of massive transport strike, the cooperatives in Central Luzon have manifested their continuing service to the riding public and full support of the public utility vehicle modernization program), a statement from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 3 (LTFRB-3) said.
Gregorio Vitug, chairman of the Lubao Golangco Transport Service Cooperative, said their association is not against the PUV modernization program and is in fact fully supporting it.
"Ang Lubao Golangco Transport Service Cooperative ay tumutugon sa ngalan o programa ng modernisasyon ng mga sasakyang pampubliko at hindi lalahok sa anumang nagbabalak ng tigil pasada para tutulan ang nasabing program (The Lubao Golangco Transport Service Cooperative is in favor of the modernization program for public vehicles and we will not join in any planned transport strike to protest the said program),” Vitug said.
Raul Dalaquit, chairman of the Carmexss Jeepney Transport Service Cooperative, assured that there will be no transportation disruptions in the region and that they are ready to provide services to the riding public that might be affected by the strike.
“Ipinaabot po naming sa aming mga nasasakupang mananakay na kami ay hindi kasama sa tigil-pasada. Suportado po namin ang PUV modernization program ng ating gobyerno (We would like to inform the riding public in our routes that we will not join the transport strike. We are in support of the government’s PUV modernization),” Dalaquit said.
Likewise, transport group DM UV Express Drivers and Operators, Inc. told the riding public not to worry as they will go on with their normal operations.
“Kami ay hindi lalahok sa transport strike o tigil pasada. Kami po ay susuporta sa programa ng gobyerno at magse-serbisyo sa mga mananakay (We will not participate in the transport strike. We will support the program of the government and will serve the riding public),” Danilo Musni, president of the group, said.
Meanwhile, the Arayat Jeepney Transport Service Cooperative expressed the belief that the transport strike is not the solution to the PUVMP issue but rather a continuous consultation with the government.
Last July 11, a consultation meeting on PUVMP was held in this province, spearheaded by LTFRB and the Department of Transportation. It was participated in by 117 transport groups composed of 236 operators and drivers in the entire Central Luzon. (PNA)
