CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –- The National Confederation of Transport Union (NCTU) Northern Mindanao has decided not to join the scheduled weeklong nationwide transport strike starting on Monday, March 6.
The NCTU has earlier said it would join the nationwide transport strike as its way to express their opposition to franchise consolidation and traditional jeepney phaseout.
In a sudden change of heart, the transport group decided not to join anymore but did not cite reasons for its decision.
However, NCTU Northern Mindanao coordinator Joel Gabatan said in a phone interview on Saturday, March 4, that despite their nonparticipation, the NCTU Northern Mindanao 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).
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extended the franchise consolidation deadline until the end of this year.
Gabatan said there were jeepney operators who are also cooperative members who 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 Region 10 director, advised members of transport cooperatives to directly report their concerns or complaints about their management to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
“Para and 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 with the Manila Bulletin 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% 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, said Manibela chairman 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 their 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.
Meanwhile, the Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Service Cooperative (NOMFEDTRASCO) also expressed opposition towards nationwide transport strikes.
The NOMFEDTRASCO said its members already consolidated their franchises and voiced support for the public utility vehicle modernization program of the government.
“There were 20 transport service cooperative members that already have operational modernized units that is 45 percent of the total membership,” it said in a statement released on March 1.
The group stressed that the implementation of nationwide transport strike could prejudice the right of the riding public to access public transportation and could deplete the purpose of the PUVMP.
The said transport federation has almost fifty (50) transport cooperatives from the five provinces in the Northern Mindanao region.
Just in case there is transportation paralysis, the LTFRB regional office 10 secured its contingency plans by coordinating with the transport groups and transport corporations 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.
