Mindanaotoday.com | NorMin PUV coops will not join transport strike
By: Jigger Jerusalem and Franck Dick Rosete
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Public utility vehicle cooperatives in Northern Mindanao will not be taking part in the planned weeklong nationwide transport strike starting Monday, March 6, an official of one of the biggest PUV groups in Mindanao said.
“We are not a part of any transport strike. Our member-cooperatives have already made a commitment not to join the strike,” said Luzminda Escobidal, Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Service Cooperative (Nomfedtrasco) chief executive officer.
Escobidal said Nomfedtrasco, with 50 member-cooperatives operating in the region’s five provinces, is satisfied with the implementation of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) PUV modernization program and that there is no reason for them to join the strike.
At present, she said, 45 percent of the total membership of the federation have already modernized their fleets and are operated with new and Omnibus Franchising Guidelines-compliant PUVs.
Under the OFG, the transport cooperatives and corporations must switch to modernized PUVs that are equipped with such amenities as GPS monitors, CCTV cameras, air conditioner, and automated fare collection system and running on at least Euro 4-compliant engine.
Escobidal said a transport strike could disrupt the daily routine of workers, students and business owners, and residents who rely on the services of the PUVs.
In a statement, Nomfedtrasco has denied the assertion of Mar Valbuena, chairman of the group Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers para sa Karapatan sa Paggawa (Manibela), that the federation will join the nationwide strike.
The federation has also clarified that it is not a member of Manibela.
“The [Manibela] recently declared a week-long nationwide transport strike to oppose the LTFRB MC 2023-013, setting the deadline for industry consolidation until June 30 to retain their Provisional Authority to operate,” Nomfedtrasco said.
The June 30 deadline as stipulated in the memorandum circular 2023-013, however, was extended by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board to Dec. 31, 2023 to give more time for PUV operators and drivers to consolidate their franchises into a cooperative or a corporation as part of the government’s public transport modernization program.
Nomfedtrasco said it is strongly supporting the LTFRB memorandum circular and, in fact, its member-cooperatives have already complied with the consolidation requirement set by the DOTr.
It added, 45% of the total membership of the transport federation or 20 transport service cooperatives have already modernized their fleets and are operated with new and OFG-compliant PUVs.
“The transport federation acknowledges the prejudice that the impending transport strike may affect to the riding public. It also acknowledges that participating in the strike may defeat the purpose of the PUV Modernization Program,” Nomfedtrasco said.
Meanwhile, the National Confederation of Transport Union (NCTU) in Northern Mindanao has already planned to join the week-long nationwide transport strike as its way to express their opposition to franchise consolidation and the phasing out of the traditional PUJs.
However, the said transport group decided to change its plan by not joining the mass action after the LTFRB extended the franchise consolidation deadline until the end of this year, said Joel Gabatan, NCTU Northern Mindanao coordinator, in a phone interview Saturday, March 4.
But, despite the nonparticipation, the NCTU still called on the national government to address various concerns of the jeepney operators pertaining to the franchise consolidation that is part of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
Gabatan said there were jeepney operators, who are also cooperative members, voiced concerns because of the expensive fees and the fear to raise concerns due to the possible consequences.
“Pagmureklamo sila ignon dayon nga i-drop imong franchise ilabi na nga naka-consolidate naka; kay paghuman consolidate, ang tag-iya ana ang coop na (If they complained, they would say they will drop the franchise, especially that they were already consolidated; because after consolidation, the owner will be the cooperative),” Gabatan said.
The NTCU regional coordinator said this could be the reason why there were still several jeepney drivers and operators who were not in favor of the consolidation.
Aminoden Guro, LTFRB-10 director, advised members of transport cooperatives to directly report their concerns or complaints about their management to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
“Para ang CDA na ang musita ana nga ccoperaive nga ngano dili mo gasunod sa inyong balaod (So that the CDA would be the one to call out that cooperative asking why you’re not following your rules),” Guro said in a separate phone interview on Saturday.
Guro underscored the importance of consolidating the individual jeepney operators in order to have better fleet management in the transportation system.
The LTFRB-10 director said 98 percent of the PUVs in the region have already formed into cooperatives and consolidated their franchises.
Despite the extension of the franchise consolidation deadline, the planned transport strike next week will still continue, according to Mar Valbuena.
During the public hearing Thursday, March 2, the Senate Committee on Public Services, chaired by Senator Grace Poe urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB to fix its problem first before providing a deadline.
The LTFRB previously set a March deadline for the traditional jeepney consolidation, but it was extended on June 30 as many transport groups objected.
Just in case there is transportation paralysis, the LTFRB-10 has already secured its contingency plans, by coordinating with the transport groups to have their buses offer “Libreng Sakay” to government employees, barangay workers, and students, among others.
“This office assures the public that in case of strike, it is ready to fill the routes affected by the said strike and is prepared to cushion the effects of the strikes of transport groups,” the LTFRB-10 said. (MT)
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