Transport strike looms anew over PUJ phaseout

MANILA, Philippines — Another transport group yesterday said that it is preparing a nationwide strike amid the looming phaseout of traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) by Dec. 31.

In an interview with The STAR, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide president Mody Floranda added that aside from the phaseout of traditional jeepneys, the nationwide strike will also tackle the unabated increase in the prices of petroleum products.

“From July up to present, the increase in the price of diesel has reached P98,” he said.

Floranda added that drivers suffered losses of P500 per day or between P12,000 and P15,000 per month because of the oil price increases.

He said that the transport strike also aims to dramatize the call to the government to address the phaseout of traditional jeepneys with the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

“Officials have issued varying positions on the supposed deadline of Dec. 31, 2023. Malacañang should issue an executive order to prove that there will be no phaseout of traditional jeepneys. Until an order is issued, operators and drivers are threatened by the possible phaseout,” Floranda added.

He contradicted the claim of the Department of Transportation that 70 percent of PUJs have complied with the PUVMP.

“Based on the hearing of the Senate and House of Representatives, there are only 8,000 modernized jeepneys nationwide and of these, 1,500 are here in the National Capital Region,” Floranda said.

According to Floranda, there are 155,000 traditional jeepneys that will be affected by the phaseout, including at least 60,000 traditional jeepneys in Metro Manila.

“Based on the data, only 103 corporations and cooperatives applied for consolidation, but they have yet to buy units so the percentage covered by the modernization is still small,” he noted.

Floranda’s announcement came after transport group Manibela held a strike recently to also oppose the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.