- Protest action from drivers’ group set on Dec. 27
TRANSPORT group Transmision-Piston will push through with the strike on Dec. 27 as a collective show of protest against the Public Utility Modernization Program (PUMP) and the Davao Bus Project.
Larry Arguiles, spokesperson for Transmision-Piston, said 80-90% of the jeepney drivers and operators already committed to participate in the transport strike.
“Naa na tay mga rota nga mosuporta niini tungod kay unsa pamay lauman nila? Gawas kung atong Presidente naa pay kalouy, kay sa tan-aw namo, dili merry ang among Christmas karon (They support us because they are hopeless unless we have a compassionate President because we feel our Christmas is not merry),” Arguiles said during the staged press briefing at the Acacia Circle, Dec. 22, Friday.
“Among ilunsad ang tigil-pasada diri sa syudad, para lang madepensaan nga dili madayon ang pag phase out sa atong traditional jeepney ug mahitabo nga krisis sa transportasyon (We will hold the transport strike in the city to prevent the phase out and avert a transportation crisis),” he added.
Jeepney drivers servicing Calinan, Toril, Panabo, Bunawan, Panacan, Tibungco, Sasa, Indangan, Country Homes, Amakan, and circulatory routes 1-11 will participate in the strike.
But the spokesperson said the transport strike may still be averted if the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s Dec. 31 will change the franchise consolidation deadline, which the agency earlier declared “non-negotiable.”
