TWO big transport groups will hold a nationwide strike on Wednesday to protest the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reject the call of the Senate to put on hold the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
Modesto Floranda, president of the 80,000-strong Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operaytor Nationwide (Piston), said the group will be joined by another big transport organization, the Samahang Manibela at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon.
“We will not stop from exercising our rights that are mandated under our Constitution. With or without permits, we would go on with our simultaneous nationwide transport strike on Wednesday,” Floranda, speaking in Filipino, said on Monday.
YET ANOTHER STRIKE Members of Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon hold a transport strike on Aug. 12, 2024, in Caloocan City, to oppose the Public Transport Modernization Program. PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN
Other Piston officers lamented how the President would listen to the other side, in an apparent reference to the government agencies that advocate the PTMP and transport groups that favored it.
They said that instead of being fair to many poor jeepney drivers and operators, “the President rejected outright the call” to suspend the implementation of the PTMP.
Marcos has defended his decision, saying the program has already been postponed seven times and its implementation was not rushed.
“Eighty percent have already consolidated, so how can it be that the 20 percent will decide the fate of the 100 percent? We should listen to the majority and the majority says we should continue,” the President said.
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