Transport Groups Protest PTMP in Iloilo City

By Juliane Judilla

More than 500 jeepney drivers, operators, and commuters marched from Jaro Plaza to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region VI office in Jaro, Iloilo City on May 30 to protest the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

Led by the Panay-Negros United Transport Coalition (PNUTC) and various transport and progressive groups in Western Visayas, the protesters denounced Department Order No. 2025-009 issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and signed by DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon.

According to the order, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government will proceed with the PTMP, highlighting its “potential” benefits to the livelihood of transport workers.

The groups, however, criticized Marcos and Dizon, calling the PTMP a “failure” masked as a solution to the worsening state of public transportation.

Lilian Sembrano, president of the Kabacod Negros Transport Coalition Inc. (KNETCO), urged Secretary Dizon to fulfill his promise to renew traditional jeepneys a week after his visit to Bacolod City on April 25.

Sembrano said a month has passed, yet traditional jeepneys continue to struggle to survive.

“Why is it so difficult for Secretary Dizon to fulfill his promise?” she said.

“Why is it so hard for the government to defend the livelihood of our drivers and operators?”

“Why is it so hard to make the decision to temporarily renew all our franchises while they reassess the PUVMP?” she added.

Sembrano said even the government admitted the modernization program has a 60 percent failure rate, yet still insists on consolidation while drivers in Bacolod, Iloilo, and across the country suffer.

Adding to their frustration, the LTFRB Region VI office remained closed despite being a regular working day.

Drivers said this was a clear sign that the government refuses to face them, listen to their concerns, or take responsibility.

The groups demanded a dialogue with officials, noting that drivers from Antique, Negros, and Guimaras made great efforts to bring their concerns to the regional office.

They said they were dismissed repeatedly, and LTFRB-6 even called police in riot gear to intervene in case of unrest.

Despite this, the groups remained peaceful.

“We proved our unity, and we also proved that despite the presence of riot police, we remained calm, disciplined, and organized,” said Elmer Forro, lead convenor of the No To PUV Phaseout Coalition (NTPPC) Panay.

The groups are calling for the registration of all traditional jeepneys, the scrapping of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP), the end of compulsory consolidation, and the termination of the PTMP.

They also demanded the reinstatement of the five-year franchise for drivers and operators.

“Our fight is not yet over, and we should not exhaust all our strength now,” Forro said.

“As long as our demands remain unaddressed, we will continue to take action,” he added.