JEEPNEY drivers and operators belonging to PISTON and Manibela yesterday staged a protest rally in front of the Supreme Court in Manila to press their bid for a temporary restraining order on the PUV modernization program.
“Panawagan natin sa ating Korte Suprema, huwag tayong magbingi-bingihan, huwag tayo magbulag-bulagan. Tingnan natin ang nakakarami. Ang higit na nakakarami na mamamayang Pilipino na ngayon ay naghihikahos (We call on our Supreme Court, do not pretend that you don’t hear and see us. Look at the majority. Look at the majority of Filipinos who are now suffering),” Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena said.
The groups held the protest rally two days before the government said it would start apprehending “colorum” PUVs, or those who failed to consolidate as part of the modernization program.
The SC has required the Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to “comment within a non-extendible period of 10 calendar days” on the transport groups’ petition for the issuance of a TRO or a writ of preliminary injunction.
SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the court, in its en banc session yesterday, required the respondents to provide a status update regarding the current progress of the consolidation of PUV franchises within NCR and other regions of the country on a per route basis and a similar update regarding the Local Public Transport Route Plan per locality and the Route Rationalization Plan.
Ting said they were also required to provide a status update on the hearings before the House of Representatives on the PUV modernization program.
“The Supreme Court’s requirement for the Respondents to comment on the prayer for temporary restraining order and or writ of preliminary injunction does not mean that the prayer for TRO and or WPI was denied,” Ting clarified.
Valbuena said many operators and drivers were hoodwinked by the promises of President Marcos Jr. when he was eyeing the presidency that he would look into the welfare of ordinary Filipinos, including drivers, only for him to turn his back when he was elected in 2022.
Valbuena’s remarks were echoed by PISTON deputy secretary general Ruben Baylon who said there is a pressing need for the SC justices to act on their petition against the PUV modernization program.
“We really hope that they will issue a temporary restraining order as there is a need to suspend this program because many people have proven it to be faulty and drivers are losing earnings because of lack of spare parts,” Baylo said.
Earlier, the LTFRB said unconsolidated PUVs would be considered as “colorum” and would be apprehended starting May 16.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairperson Romando Artes previously said the recently created Joint Task Force composed of the agency, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Transportation will also conduct “anti-colorum” operations against jeepney operators and drivers who failed to consolidate under the PUV modernization program.
PISTON and other allied groups filed last December a petition asking the SC to declare as null and void several issuances of the DOTr regarding the consolidation and to issue an injunction to prevent the agency and the LTFRB from enforcing the issuances.
In seeking a temporary injunction, the groups cited the adverse impact on the income and livelihood of PUV operators, drivers and their families, and commuters nationwide.
They also argued the government’s move is “oppressive, overreaching and confiscatory” considering the damage it would bring to the livelihood of ordinary PUV operators and drivers as well as the prohibitive cost of the modern jeepney that will replace the traditional one from P1.4 to P1.7 million to P2.5 to P2.6 million.
They added the government subsidy of P160,000 only covers 5.7 percent of the total cost of the modern e-jeepney.
