Despite several attempts to weaken the strike around the country through harassment and intimidation, jeepney drivers say that as long as the Marcos administration fails to address their demands, they will remain on strike.
Opposing PUV Phaseout is “a matter of life and death” for drivers
Many drivers and operators have opposed the push for PUV modernization for years, saying that it is inhumane and unpatriotic because it only tries to prioritize the interests of the rich over the livelihood of drivers and commuters.
“Kasi kung iphe-phaseout, talagang gagawin na namin yun. Kesa naman mawalan ka ng hanapbuhay,” sabi ni Kuya Melvin, a driver and operator on the UP-Philcoa route.”
The drivers, many of whom are barely able to make ends meet, are being forced to let go of their traditional jeepneys – many of which they have been operating for decades – and purchase new, foreign-made “modernized jeepneys” for more than P2 Million.
Transport groups have pointed out that, given how expensive these new units are, they will be forced to take out loans currently pegged at around 7% interest, eventually totalling about P3.4 million.
“Dito sa amin, pinakamataas mo sa byahe, 3000 sa maghapon. Eh kung hindi mo pa makuha yung quota, patong-patong na yung utang mo. Hindi mo na nga matapos yung bilihin ng sasakyan may utang ka pa!” said Kuya Ruben, a driver on the UP-Pantranco jeepney route.
They have also opposed the government’s push to consolidate them into cooperatives.
“Sabi nila ipa-miyembro mo sa kooperatiba, ipamiyembro mo lang daw sa kooperatiba. Pero parang malabo eh,” added Kuya Ruben.
They claim that these consolidation initiatives are just the government’s way of taking ownership away from small-time operators and giving big corporations even more control.
“‘Tanging mga dambuhalang korporsasyon lamang ang may kakayahang pinansyal para makabili ng kinakailangang 15 minbus para mapatakbo sa isang ruta nang hindi nababaon sa matinding utang,” Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) stated.
They also said that, in the end, franchise consolidation means that drivers will have to let go of their rights to individual franchises and jeepneys, allowing cooperatives or corporations to have them as soon as they are unable to pay their debts.
“Ang indibidwal na prangkisa ng bawat operator ang kailangan niya at ng mga tsuper para makapaghanapbuhay. Tahasang atake sa katiyakan sa kabuhayan ng libo-libong tsuper at operator ang sapilitang Franchise Consolidation na ang duduluhin naman, kahit ano pang mabubulaklak na salita ng gobyerno, ay phaseout at kawalan ng trabaho at kabuhayan ng libo-libong tsuper at maliliit na operator,” asserted PISTON.
Drivers persist despite threats
However, instead of addressing their concerns, the state responded to the drivers with threats, intimidation, and repression.
“Hindi sinagot ni Marcos ang panawagan ng strike!” said Ivan Sucgang, League of Filipino Student Chairperson.
“Nakita ng mga kabataan na nakiisa ngayong araw ang pandarahas ng PNP at ng 18,000 na pulis na dineploy dito sa Metro Manila. Yan ba ang mensahe ng Marcos Jr. sa mga kabataan at mamamayan na nagdedemanda ng kanilang karapatan sa hanapbuhay?” Sucgang added.
Drivers from different terminals saw a barrage of threats over the past few days, all in attempts to curtail the strike.
On Saturday, for example, the police approached drivers in the Katipunan Jeepney Terminal asking whether they would join the strike, and warning them that they would put “Libreng Sakay buses” in the terminal if they did.
This led many drivers to hesitate in joining the strike, as they feared that they would be displaced from their terminal.
Read: https://tinyurl.com/4wmpmw44
Three uniformed policemen also gathered drivers at the same terminal on Monday morning asking if they would join the strike.
Later on, as the strike was ongoing and the drivers were preparing for the afternoon protest action, another police officer interrogated a campus journalist and several jeepney drivers about the leaders of the strike, saying it was only for their report.
On the same day, PNP Officer Arnold Ementino prevented jeepney drivers from joining the transportation strike at Sta. Mesa, Manila, on the grounds that they were being coerced by activists.
This move was condemned by the League of Filipino Students, who reminded the police that, according to the Joint DOLE-PNP-PEZA Guidelines, they must maintain a distance of at least 50 meters from the strike.
Read: https://tinyurl.com/389uuv7r
The activists would eventually be dispersed by the policemen, claiming that it was at the request of the Mezza Residences administration.
There were countless other reports of harassment throughout different strike centers in the country.
As strike continues, drivers set to build upon their first day victories
Despite these attacks, transport groups have hailed the strike’s first day as a success, and hopes to build on the movement’s momentum.
PISTON reported that 90% of the routes in NCR were inactive because of the strike as drivers stood firmly in their picket lines, with almost total paralysis in all major jeepney routes.
They also said that, in many neighboring provinces, they were able to immobilize several major routes as well.
These numbers, the drivers say, show how vehemently they oppose the government’s “inhumane” PUV modernization, and should make Marcos act upon their concerns immediately.
Their request is simple: for President Marcos to fulfill the promises he made during the election and release an executive order scrapping DO 2017-011 Omnibus Franchising Guidelines.
At the minimum, they ask for a clear statement from the president on the PUV phaseout, warning that the strike will continue if left unaddressed.
Despite the difficulties, the drivers are committed to keep the strike going until their demands are met.
As Ka Nolan Grulla, UP Transport Group spokesperson, said, “Kung hindi kami titigil, tuloy-tuloy na ang sinasabing bulok na PUV modernization, na nagpapahirap sa buhay ng isang operator. Kaya’t hindi lang laban ito ng mga driver at ng mga operator. Laban ito ng lahat ng sambayanang Pilipino, pati ng manggagawa.”
Until the government listens to the jeepney drivers – as well as the broad base of support from different sectors – and stops the PUV phaseout, the groups say, “tuloy ang welga!”
Ang larawan ay mula kay Johannes Hong
