Two transport groups protesting against the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) began a two-day transportation strike in Bacolod City on Tuesday that will culminate with their joining a Labor Day rally on Wednesday, May 1.
The rally spearheaded by the Kilusang Mayo Uno will be held in front of the Bacolod City Government Center replica at the Bacolod Public Plaza Wednesday afternoon, Eric Bendoy, secretary general of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center-Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (UNDOC-PISTON), said.
UNDOC-PISTON and Kabacod Negros Transport Coalition held a vigil at the Bacolod City Government Center Tuesday night, April 30, to air their grievances, he said.
The Kabacod Negros Transport Coalition in Bacolod headed by Lilian Sembrano have also joined the two-day transportation strike.
Tuesday was the deadline for jeepney operators and drivers to consolidate themselves into transport cooperatives, or risk losing their franchises under the PUVMP.
Members of the Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Associations and Sentrong Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Negros who have signed up for the consolidation program did not join the Bacolod strike.
Modern jeepneys also continued to operate in Bacolod on Tuesday.*