DAVAO CITY – At least 20 percent of the 7,199 jeepney drivers in Davao did not join the nationwide transport strike in Davao City Monday, which was described as generally peaceful.
This was reported by City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Chief Dionisio Abude, who was City Hall’s focal person on the transport strike.
“As per assessment, more or less 20 percent PUJ did not join the strike,” Abude said.
For Davao Region, the TRANSMISSION- Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) reported that 90 percent of the 16,000 public utility vehicles plyi within the city and inter-city (Digos, Davao del Sur and Panabo and Tagum in Davao del Norte) had crippled public transport.
TRANSMISSION-PISTON chair Charito Junares confirmed that not all of the 90 percent who joined the transport strike totally stopped plying their routes especially in Davao City.
He said many of them have to ply their routes at least two to three rounds to earn for the day’s food need. A driver earns at least P500 per day.
Despite lesser jeepneys, commuters especially the private sector workers and vendors travelled to downtown Davao utilizing the fbus ride provided by the city government.
In fact, commuters were happy. Inside the bus from Mintal bound for the downtown area, a male in mid-40s commented, “Sige na lang unta strike para libre ang pamasahe kanunay (I wish it’s transport strike always so we can have free rides).”
Buses were full. One bus from Calinan was full of passengers mostly workers, farmers, vendors, and a family when it reached mid-way of the Davao-Bukidnon highway.
City Hall deployed 36 public utility buses from Bachelor Bus Company with 12 units; Metro Shuttle - 12, Mindanao Star - 10 and LCL with 2 to serve major areas in Davao.
Abude said buses were available in Toril, Calinan, Maa, Catalunan Grande, Lasang via Sasa and R. Castillo; Lasang via Catitipan in Buhangin; and, Agdao via CM Recto.
Drivers and operators have asked to scrap the PUV Modernization Program launched by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) through the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on July 2017 the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, which pushes for the modernization of public utility vehicles.
Junares said majority of the drivers and operators could not afford to buy the units because it would require them to put up P1.2 – P1.6 million to own one unit.
Earlier, Manuel “Maning” Duran, chair of the Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Drivers and Operators Cooperative (SEMDDOC) said several drivers cannot afford the modernization program much more borrow money from the bank to buy the new jeepneys at P1.2 million to P1.6 million.
He said most operators cannot even afford to replace or rehab their jeepneys.
The government, however, envisions the PUV modernization program to meet safety, energy efficiency, and emission standards in order to enhance commuter convenience.
Under the modernization program, jeepney units that are 15 years old will be replaced with Euro 4 engines or electrically-powered engines with solar panels for roofs. Units will also be equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, a GPS navigation system, an Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), speed limiters, dashboard cameras, and Wi-Fi.
Junares is concerned that government will only give one franchise for 10 units, which drivers and operators cannot afford to buy or loan money from the bank to invest on the units. Junares hoped that government will also take their side on the issue.
Junares said the transport strike will end with a program at the Freedom Park at 5:00 p.m. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
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