Piston eyes transport strike

Amid the impending crackdown on traditional jeepneys, drivers and operators are planning to hold a transport strike in Metro Manila as the deadline set by the government to comply with the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) ends on April 30.

- BELLA CARIASO

In an interview with The STAR yesterday, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) president Mody Floranda said they have asked President Marcos to order a review of the PUVMP before the end of the three month extension he ordered.

"We condemn the impending crackdown as we all know that jeepney drivers and operators are really suffering," Floranda said.

He was reacting to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Teofilo Guadiz's statement that the LTFRB would go after colorum public utility jeepneys starting May 1.

"During our meeting with Chairman Guadiz last week, we asked him to study the PUVMP. That's what we are demanding, especially now that many of those who joined the consolidation program have withdrawn from corporations because since operators joined the cooperatives, they lost their source of income," Floranda said.