5oo piston members expected to join, Drivers protest vs DOTC order

CEBU, Philippines - Public transportation in Metro Cebu is expected to be crippled today after some 500 jeepney drivers and operators committed to join a protest rally against a Department of Transportation and Communications order.

Transport groups headed by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) - Cebu are expected to join the protest, possibly paralyzing public transport in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Lilo-an, and Consolacion.

Anticipating the inconvenience  the riding public will experience because of the protest, at least 20 buses will be provided by the Cebu City government.

Cebu City Administrator Lucelle Mercado said the city is prepared should public transportation be paralyzed due to the protest, adding that her office will coordinate with the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management on where to dispatch the buses that will accommodate commuters who might be stranded.

PISTON-Cebu Coordinator Greg Perez said the drivers will assemble at Fuente Osmeña at 8 a.m. and will start marching by 9 a.m. to the offices of the Land Transportation Office-7 and CITOM.

Perez said that drivers and operators are opposing the Department of Transportation and Communications’ Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01 or the Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Laws, Rules and Regulations Governing Land Transportation. The new penalty scheme will be implemented effective today.

“Ang JAO 2014-01 bag-ong iskima sa multahan diin mga driver ug mga nanag-iya og sakyanan ang maigo. Gikan sa P1, 000 hangtud na sa P1 million ang multahan ug gikan sa usa ka semana nga pagkasuspenso hangtud na sa pagkompiska sa lisensya ug pag-revoke sa rehistrasyon sa sakyanan,” said Perez.

He claimed that the activity will be a national protest as transport groups in the country will clamor for the same concern seeking to declare JAO 2014-01 as unconstitutional.

“Ang kaning ilang gipatuman nga sobrang pagsaka sa multahan, dili ni pagdisiplina sa driver, pangwarta ra ni nila…daghan pa gyo’d ang mga drivers ang wala nakahibaw ani nga pagpataas nila,” Perez further said. According to him, it is not justifiable to implement the order, adding that his group was not even invited during the public consultation last April 10.

However, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board -7 Acting Transportation Development Officer Reynaldo Elnar said that there were actually representatives from PISTON-Cebu during the consultation.

Elnar said it is the right of the drivers and operators to protest but they should ensure that there won’t be a transport strike.

“Maayo unta og malinawon ilang protesta, basta naa sila’y permit ani ug basta dili ma-paralyze ang transportation,” he said.

He added that if they see no PUVs in streets today, organizers of the rally will be summoned and will be asked to justify their move.

“Pa-explain-on usa nato sila kun wala gyo’y mo byahe ugma (June 19), kun dili ma justify, ma-cancel gyud ilang franchise ana. Dapat raba unahon ang public need kay mao na ang reason nganong ni-apply sila og franchise,” he said.

The LTFRB-7 official said that a mass transport strike is a violation of the terms and conditions of the franchise permit.

Perez guaranteed, though, that there will be no transport strike.

“Peaceful lang gyod ni among buhaton, kay bati man pod nga ang sayop atbangan sab og sayop,” he claimed.

He said that the picket rally will conclude by noon. -/NSA (FREEMAN)