Piston, Manibela to stage strikes as part of protests
Two major transport groups will join mounting street protests against corruption in government by staging nationwide strikes this week.
The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide or Piston will hold its transport strike on Sept. 18, while the Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon or Manibela will hold a three-day strike on Sept. 17-19.
“Hearings and investigations are no longer enough. Someone should be held accountable. Someone should be jailed,” Piston said on its Facebook page.
The group lamented how jeepney drivers pay P13,000 and motortaxi riders P4,000 in monthly taxes. It added that those using modern jeepneys are the most miserable because they pay P23,000 monthly for value-added and excise taxes.
“You’re already drowning in debt because of the modernization and your taxes are also being stolen,” Piston said.
‘Funding lavish lifestyles’
Manibela, in a statement, echoed the indignation and claimed that the excise tax imposed on diesel and collected from jeepney drivers was funding the lavish lifestyle of politicians and their children.
“It’s not right that we are funding their lavish lifestyles while jeepney drivers work almost overnight just to earn enough for their families,” it said.
Manibela is a public transport organization that claims to have 50,000 drivers and operators as its members.
‘Contingency measures’
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), meanwhile, downplayed the possible impact of the transport strikes and assured commuters that these “will not cripple public mobility.”
It added that government agencies “are fully prepared to mitigate any inconvenience to the riding public.”
“We recognize the right of transport groups to express their grievances. However, I want to assure our commuters that the LTFRB, in coordination with the Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and concerned local government units, has prepared contingency measures to ensure that the riding public will not be stranded,” LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III said in a statement.
He called on commuters to “remain calm,” assuring that alternative routes and additional transport units will be provided to minimize any disruption.
‘Reforms take time’
Guadiz said vehicles such as military trucks, buses and modernized public utility vehicles (PUVs) will be deployed during the strike to provide free rides to commuters.
“Commuters are our top priority. We will make sure that on Sept. 18, Filipinos can still get to work, school, and their destinations safely and on time,” he said.
The LTFRB also “appealed for sobriety,” addressing criticisms over the PUV modernization program. It said the program was being implemented to improve the “welfare of commuters and the transport sector alike.”
“Reforms take time, but these are being done for the long-term benefit of both operators and passengers. The LTFRB remains open to dialogue with transport groups, but we urge them not to hold the commuting public hostage,” Guadiz said.
Series of protests
Online outrage over defective and nonexistent flood control projects has poured out into the streets since early September, some two months after they were raised by Sen. Panfilo Lacson and by President Marcos in his State of the Nation Address on July 28.
On Sept. 4, protesters stormed the compound of Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya, who have been linked to massive corruption at the Department of Public Works and Highways following two video features highlighting their wealth.
On Sept. 5, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan stormed the gate of the House of Representatives.
On Sept. 7, a “Takbo Laban sa Korapsyon” was held at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
On Sept. 11, protesters gathered at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, more popularly known as Edsa Shrine, for the “Misa at Protesta Laban sa Korapsyon.” It was led by Tindig Pilipinas, Nagkaisa, Kalipunan ng Kilusang Masa, and Simbahan at Komunidad Laban sa Katiwalian.
On Sept. 12, the Philippine National Police said it recorded at least 13 rallies as part of “Black Friday” protests, including a protest held at Edsa Shrine initiated by Bangon Sambayanan.
That same day, UP Diliman students staged a “walkout” to denounce alleged corruption in government projects and recent budget cuts in education, while UP Manila students protested the delayed construction of the university building, a project linked to the Discayas.
More scheduled
More protests have been scheduled by several groups this week.
On Sept. 18, the Concerned Citizens of Pampanga will hold a rally at the complex of the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando.
On Sept. 21, several civil society organizations will lead the “Trillion Peso March” against flood control fund anomalies at Edsa Shrine, coinciding with the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of martial law.
Another massive protest led by students from top universities is also expected at Rizal Park on the same day. —WITH REPORTS FROM DIANNE SAMPANG, GILLIAN VILLANUEVA AND KURT DELA PEÑA
