Drivers to rally again Tuesday

CEBU, Philippines -  More than 300 members of Pagkakaisa ng mga Sama-han ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) – Cebu have committed to join a rally that would possibly cripple public transportation in Metro Cebu on September 30.

PISTON-Cebu head Greg Perez said that they are reiterating their opposition to a joint order by the Department of Transportation and Communications, the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board imposing a new set of fines that they deem unjust and excessive.

Perez said they will also raise their concerns with the Department of Energy about the P6 fuel subsidy for drivers and the 12 percent value added tax.

“Magpadayon gihapon among kalihokan hangtod dili mahatagan og pagtagad among mga apila ug hangyo sa gobyerno ug laing mga ahensya,” he said.

Last June 19, the same transport group held a rally in front of the LTO and City Traffic Operations Management offices, and claimed to have affected 30 percent of public transport that day.

For the September 30 rally, Perez said they will assemble at the Fuente Osmeña at 9 a.m. for a march to the DOE office, then to LTO and to CITOM.

He claimed that national transport organizations will also conduct their own similar protest actions in different areas all over the country.

Perez insists is it not a transport strike.

“Gusto lang gyud namo mapadangat among mga reklamo,” he said, adding that their rally will conclude by noon.

CITOM Executive Director Rafael Christopher Yap said the city government will be ready as always to respond to any lack of vehicles as a result of the protest action.

“We respect naman their right as an organization to air their views, but we hope that they will also observe the privileges of other people. Rights of other people in the use of the roads, kay, again, sila public transport operators, naa mana sa ilang certificate of public convenience nga moserbis-yo sila,” he said.

Meanwhile, LTFRB-7 will assess whether or not to allow buses to serve routes to be affected by the rally.

“We will assess the situation on Monday like if we will allow buses to ply the routes that will be affected by the picket,” said LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon.

National Confederation of Transportworker’s Union-Central Visayas national vice president Romeo Armamento said that their group is willing to join PISTON.

“If they will invite us to join, welcome mi ana. Pero sa pagka-karon, wa pa mi nadawat nga imbitasyon,” said Armamento.

NCTU-Central Visayas in Cebu has 2,000 member drivers serving over 22 routes.

Armamento said that they are also supportive of the issue raised by PISTON on the controversial Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.

“Walay klaro ang implementasyon ani kay ang LTO nagsigi na sila og panakop unya i-impound pa gyud ang mga sakyanan nga naay mga violations,” said Armamento.

CITRASCO general manager Ryan Benjamin Yu said that they are not joining the rally. Yu said CITRASCO has over 1,000 member drivers in Cebu City.

“Klaro man pud nga ang mga gipangdakop, naa sad mga violations,” said Yu.

“Di lang mi mo apil ana ilang picket. Magpaabot lang sa mi sa final decision sa JAO review,” Yu added.

LTO-7 regional director Arnel Tancinco earlier said that despite the pending review of JAO 2014-01, its provisions and penalties are still in effect.

Tancinco also confirmed they have impounded at least six vehicles with defects, as stipulated under JAO 2014-01.

JAO, jointly implemented by the DOTC, LTO and LTFRB last July 19, aims to instill discipline especially among drivers of public utility vehicles, prevent road accidents, ease the perennial traffic jams and clamp down on unregistered or “colorum” vehicles, among others. —/BRP (FREEMAN)