Groups protest transport policies in Iloilo City

1 of 6

By Juliane Judilla

Hundreds of jeepney drivers and operators from different transport coalitions, along with commuter and consumer groups, held a series of activities on Monday, March 9, calling for transport policy reforms.

The mobilization was led by the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition Panay and Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide Panay.

Activities included petition-signing drives held simultaneously at three transport terminals — Mohon in Oton, Tagbak in Jaro, and GT Mall in Pavia — followed by a press conference and a picket protest in front of the regional offices of the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 6 in Tabuc Suba, Jaro.

The groups called for the renewal of five-year franchises for traditional jeepneys, the suspension of the Local Public Transport Route Plan, and the scrapping of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

Under Iloilo City’s Enhanced Local Public Transport Re-Route Plan, only 25% to 40% of first-town public utility vehicles are allowed to enter the city, while some units are limited to designated terminals and transport hubs.

The policy is part of the national Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, which seeks to rationalize routes and modernize public transport.

Transport groups, however, argued that the policy threatens the livelihood of 60% to 75% of first-town drivers and operators who mainly serve students, workers, farmers, and other commuters traveling to and from the city.

According to Elmer Forro of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Panay and lead convenor of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition Panay, more than 600 traditional jeepney units joined the day’s activities.

He said many of the participating units were unconsolidated vehicles, while others had withdrawn from cooperatives.

Protesters also highlighted issues faced by the transport sector, including overloading allegations, Land Transportation Office apprehensions against jeepneys, and restrictions on first-town public utility jeepneys entering the city because of the Local Public Transport Route Plan.

These concerns strengthened their main demand to allow traditional jeepneys to register and to suspend the Local Public Transport Route Plan.

Warren Gangoso of Negros Panay United said the city is already experiencing a shortage of jeepneys but has yet to address the problem effectively.

“Livelihood or harm to the people — which weighs more for the government?” he said.

Meanwhile, jeepney driver Junifer Ramos argued that transport cooperatives should be held accountable, especially those that pushed drivers to consolidate but have yet to provide proper compensation.

“All politicians already have big businesses. Yet they still enter the transport sector and take away the livelihood of drivers and operators.”

Ramos added that forcing drivers to join cooperatives has no realistic basis, saying the reported 500-peso daily salary from cooperatives is insufficient to support a family.

“If you’re paid 500 pesos, can you support a family of six? Eight?” he added.

The effects of the policy are also being felt by commuters.

During the morning rush hour, commuters crowded the steps of GT Mall in Ungka, Pavia, waiting for city-bound public utility vehicles, a scene also observed at other terminals.

For Trisha, a student at the University of San Agustin, commuting from her hometown of Maasin to the city takes one to two hours.

She described commuting as a daily struggle for students who are constantly racing against time.

“As a student, it’s a huge struggle for me because I have to take two rides every day, so I really run out of time, especially when I have morning classes,” she said.

She added that the difficulties of commuting go beyond time and also affect her daily expenses, especially as prices of basic goods, particularly food, continue to rise.

The Panay Consumers Alliance also backed the transport groups and urged the government to repeal policies that add to the burden on drivers.

The group called for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, the 12% value-added tax, and excise taxes on fuel, which it said contribute to rising gasoline and diesel prices.

Transport leaders and consumer advocates said these combined policies continue to intensify economic pressure on both drivers and commuters. (Photos by Juliane Judilla/Daily Guardian)