IN PHOTOS: Piston says nationwide transport strike a success

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IN PHOTOS: Piston says nationwide transport strike a success

Rappler

Despite contradicting statements from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Piston claims high participation rates in Rizal, Alabang, Navotas, Davao, Southern Tagalog, and Angeles, Pampanga

MANILA, Philippines – Instead of holding onto their steering wheels, hundreds of jeepney drivers nationwide held up banners and joined the transport strike on Monday, September 30, to renew their call to junk the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) modernization program.

The protest was led by transport groups Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization. Organizations like Gabriela, Anakbayan, and Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan, among others, also joined in the protest. 

The PUV modernization program, which will phase out jeepneys that are at least 15 years old and replace them with Euro 4-compliant vehicles that can run on renewable energy, is set to be implemented in 2020. (READ: Is the PUV modernization program ‘anti-poor?’) 

Since the modernization plan was first introduced in 2017, Piston and other transport groups have maintained their stance that rehabilitating public utility vehicles would be more cost-effective than replacing them.

According to Piston national president Mody Floranda, the modernization program will only cause loss of livelihood to around 174,000 small-time operators and 600,000 jeepney drivers. 

The Department of Transportation had questioned Piston’s motives in the past, saying that the group disengaged with the government and refused to hold a dialogue with them after the PUV modernization program had taken shape.

According to Piston, Monday’s nationwide transport strike was widely successful. Despite contradicting statements from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Piston claimed high participation rates in Rizal (70%), Alabang (90%), Navotas (90%), Davao (95%), Southern Tagalog (95%), and Angeles, Pampanga (100%).   

Students from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) also joined the protest to show solidarity to the jeepney drivers and operators. 

“This program claims to modernize our jeepneys, but at the expense of the ordinary Filipino who commutes every day. The franchising guidelines state that only modernized jeepneys will be allowed to obtain a franchise, but will cost millions of pesos to operate a jeepney,” the Center for Nationalist Studies-UPLB said. 

Here are other photos from the nationwide transport strike: 

Metro Manila  

QUEZON CITY. Photo by Gerard Carreon/Rappler

QUEZON CITY. Photo by Gerard Carreon/Rappler

MABUHAY ROTONDA. Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

CALOOCAN CITY.  Photo by Lisa Marie David/Rappler

CALOOCAN CITY. Photo by Lisa Marie David/Rappler

AURORA BOULEVARD. Photo by Darren Langit/Rappler

AURORA BOULEVARD. Photo by Darren Langit/Rappler

ZAPOTE FLYOVER, LAS PIÑAS CITY. Photo by Heraldo Filipino

ZAPOTE FLYOVER, LAS PIÑAS CITY. Photo by Heraldo Filipino

Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY. Photo by Mau Victa/Rappler

BAGUIO CITY. Photo by Mau Victa/Rappler

Calamba, Laguna 

CROSSING, CALAMBA. Photo by The Knight

CROSSING, CALAMBA. Photo by The Knight

Los Baños, Laguna

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA. Photo from UPLB Perspective

LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA. Photo from UPLB Perspective

Some national government agencies and local government units responded to the nationwide transport strike by offering free rides to affected commuters. Classes were also canceled in some areas and schools due to the transport strike. – with a report from Loreben Tuquero/Rappler.com 

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