Facing the cancellation of their franchise under the Government's jeepney modernization program, jeepney drivers have threatened to strike. Government calls on them to form or join co-operatives.

MANILA (PIA) - More than 25,000 jeepney drivers need to join co-operatives to renew their franchise before it expires on April 30.

The jeepney modernization program aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles that run on more environmentally-friendly fuel. 

Operators and drivers can apply for a new franchise, but as part of transport cooperatives.

Under the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) omnibus franchising guidelines issued on June 19, 2017, only corporations or cooperatives with at least 15 vehicles would be allowed to apply for new route franchises.

The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) decided to extend the franchise validity of the ubiquitous passenger jeepneys to give operators and drivers more time to form cooperatives that are crucial in the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program. 

"It depends on what will be presented to the board. Maybe the not to be allowed is also far out, but there's going to be certain compliance that they need to do," said LTFRB board member Riza Marie Paches.

The agency also called on the operators of traditional jeepneys to form a cooperative or participate in another cooperative to avoid the problem.

According to the LTFRB, it is better for the jeepney driver to be a member of the cooperative because the boundaries are no longer needed.

"Our drivers should be paid. They are considered our drivers under the Modernization Program are considered as regular employees of the corporation or the cooperatives. They are entitled to a regular salary and they are also entitled to social legislative benefits such as SSS, Pagibig, PhilHealth," said LTFRB NCR regional director Zona Tamayo. 

The LTFRB announced on March 1 the extension of the deadline for traditional jeepneys to consolidate their franchises under a cooperative until the end of 2023.

Senator Robinhood Padilla said: “The implementation of the modernization should be delayed.”  He also called on the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to help the drivers organize into cooperatives so they can acquire the new environment-friendly jeepneys.

Meanwhile, as reported in www.manilatimes.net, Sen. Francis Joseph "Chiz" Escudero urged the government to check reports that some electric vehicles are "breakdown-prone.

Escudero added that some of these modern jeepneys "have been grounded for lack of spare parts."

"We have been sold lemons. So how can these be modern jeepneys when they conk out after a few years? How can they be better replacements of sturdy 30-year-old jeeps?" the senator said, citing his experience as Sorsogon governor wherein electronic vehicles procured for cooperatives have become unusable after two years.

www.pna.gov.ph 

With reports from www.manilatimes.net, www.inquirer.net, www.senate.gov.ph