Public transportation in Bacolod City is not expected to be paralyzed despite some groups’ plans to stage protest caravans against the government’s jeepney modernization program on Monday, April 15.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier announced that operators of traditional public utility vehicles (PUV) that fail to meet the modernization consolidation deadline will not be allowed to operate after April 30.
Consolidation refers to the government requirement for PUV operators to form cooperatives or corporations for them to gain access to business financing to acquire modern units.
The Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association and the Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide are not joining the caravan or any strike, Eduardo “Junjun” de Asis, STONE secretary general, said Sunday.
The modern jeepneys are also expected to continue to operate on Monday.
Asis said joining a strike is not the solution to the problem. They have signed up to join a cooperative to comply with the consolidation requirement and will seek provisional authorities to operate their traditional jeepneys until December.
Meanwhile, the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center and Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD) are staging transport caravans to oppose the jeepney modernization program of the government and its April 30 deadline.
Rudy Agsam said BACOD– Kaisahan nang Mananakay at Byahero sa Daan will hold a protest program at the old Bacolod Airport to be followed by a protest caravan. UNDOC and the other BACOD group will hold a transport caravan from Bata Marapara that will converge at the Fountain of Justice for a protest rally against the modernization deadline, Eric Bendoy of UNDOC said.*