Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB-Davao) director Nonito Llanos III bared that the city-wide transport strike on Wednesday failed to paralyze the public transport operations in Davao City.
Members of the Davao-based progressive transport group Transport of Southern Mindanao for Solidarity, Independence, and Nationalism-Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Transmision-PISTON) held a transport strike and a protest rally in response to the impending Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program (PUVMP) and the Davao Bus Project in Davao City.
Based on the consolidated report of LTFRB-Davao of the transport strike from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., there were two picket rallies conducted in Matina and Freedom Park along Roxas Avenue. According to the data of LTFRB-Davao, the rallies were attended by approximately 10 members of the Transmision-PISTON group.
LTFRB-Davao stated that the rally did not disrupt the traffic or the operations of the PUJs.
The agency also reported that the only route that was temporarily affected by the transport strike was the Ma-a route.
“Paralyzed? No. Ma-a was affected pero sandali lang kay naa daw nanghuraw pero napadalhan dayon ug pulis so nagbalik ang operation ug gipadalhan sad nato ug duha ka bus to cover that route towards Ateneo de Davao Grade School and Bankerohan,” Llanos told Edge Davao thru Viber.
The areas monitored were Toril, Calinan, Mandug, Cabantian, Panacan, Lasang, the downtown area, the city hall area, and the premises of the LTFRB-Davao office.
Transmision-PISTON spokesperson Larry Argilles said in an interview that the group was expecting that 70 to 80 percent of the transport sector in Davao City will support the rally.
“Dinhi sa sentro sa syudad sa Davao makita nato na daghan pa nagdagan pero naay mga ruta nga 90 percent wala mubiyahe ang mga sakyanan. Ang Ma-a 90 percent naparalisa nila ang units didto na dili magbiyahe. Matina padulong southbound from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. 80 percent ang sakyanan na wala mubiyahe tungod kay misuporta sila sa tigil pasada,” Argilles said.
Meanwhile, Argilles blasted the Marcos administration, the Department of Transporation (DoTr), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for forcefully mandating that PUJ drivers and operators nationwide consolidate with their units by the end of 2023.
“Ang PUVMP usa ka pamaagi aron masakeron ang panginabuhian sa mga gagmayng PUJ drayber ug operator. Kapin libuan ka mga drayber ug operators sa tibuok Pilipinas mawad-an ug prangkisa ug katungod nga mupasada sa 2024 ug 2025. Mamahimo sad nga makorporatisa ang sistema sa transport kung kini hingpit nga mapatuman,” he said.
Under a new bus system, the public transport cooperatives in Davao City will have to consolidate to establish a bigger entity that will be able to operate at least at one of the networks.
The planned bus system, which is already partially being implemented, will have 29 bus routes divided into four levels: the MetroDavao forms the core services connecting all major commercial centers with five routes; DavaoInter with eight routes will connect urban areas directly to the central business area; DavaoFeeder District runs nine routes that connect smaller centers with dispersed communities; and DavaoLocal provides connectivity between the remote areas of the city and the integrated transport terminals.
Argilles also mentioned that the planned Davao Public Transport Modernization Program better known as the Davao Bus Project deprived the drivers and operators in the city of their livelihood.
“Ang imodernisa ang dagan sa pampublikong transprotasyon sa Davao ug pulihan ang mga PUJ ug mga modern bus o minibus. Kini usa ka dakong pagkawkaw sa panginabuhian sa mga gagmayng dyraber ug operator sa dakbayan,” he added.
Argilles clarified the progressive groups are not against the development, however, he said it must be done in a reasonable way.
The groups are also appealing to the government instead of the PUVMP, they should help the small operators and drivers to rehabilitate some units to comply with the environmental standards.
“Tugutan sila nga magpadayon sa pagpamasada ug ibalik ang 5-year effectivity sa prangkisa. Ihunong ang Davao Bus Project ug tinuoray na kunsultahon ang mga gagmayng drayber, operator, ug mga komunidad alang sa pagmugna og mga resolusyon ug plano,” he said.
The PUVMP is the former president Duterte administration’s flagship program aimed at transforming public transportation. This includes regulatory reform and establishes new guidelines for granting concessions for road-based public transport services.
