ILOILO CITY -- A caravan protest and not a jeepney strike was staged here on Monday by transport groups objecting the government’s plan to phase out old jeepneys by 2018 as part of the modernization program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
In an interview, Edgar Salarda, president of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), said a total of 18 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and 50 drivers that joined the caravan protest in this city.
They roamed around the city and had several stopovers at different PUJ terminals.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 spokesperson, Police Supt. Gilbert Gorero, said the caravan protest has “no impact on transportation and mobility of goods” in the city.
While the nationwide transport strike is scheduled until October 17, Salarda said they have no more activities on Tuesday.
He assured that transport groups in the region would also continue regular operations.
Salarda said they did not join the transport strike as they want to have a coordinated effort in the whole of Visayas.
He said there are currently several activities in Bacolod City in celebration of Masskara Festival, as well as in Cebu with Lakbayan Festival.
Salarda said their protest focused on their appeal to the government to rehabilitate old units of PUJs instead of phasing out them out.
He said that more or less 90 percent of PUJs in the region would be affected by the modernization program.
Aside from the protest against modernization program, transport groups also protested against the continuing hike in petroleum prices. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
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