MANILA — Transport group PISTON said Wednesday it would lead a three-day transport strike from November 20, Monday.

This strike is a response to the approaching Dec. 31 deadline for franchise consolidation applications under the PUV or public utility vehicle modernization project, said PISTON, also known as Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide.

Another transport group, Manibela, held a strike in October against the PUV modernization program that would supposedly lead to the phaseout of hundreds of thousands of traditional jeepneys nationwide.

Authorities said the strike caused "minimal" disruption on traffic.

• LTFRB to review if drivers violated franchise over transport strike

WHAT LTFRB SAID

Some jeepney drivers and operators are backing the PUV modernization program, with "50 percent or more" already consolidated, according to The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board spokesperson Celine Pialago.

"To be reviewed pa rin yan. In fact, ongoing ang meeting ngayon ng ating chairman para ipatawag at i-double check ang percentage ng consolidation at ma-review kung gaano kadami ang sumusuporta ng PUV modernization program," Pialago said in a public briefing.

She said they would coordinate with other agencies and local government units to ensure that the public would have public transport during the strike.

LTFRB and these agencies will assess the impact of the 3-day transport strike on Monday, she said.

"At the end of the day, welfare ng pasahero ang importante para sa ating lahat. Pag nagkakaroon ng transport strike, sila ang unang naapektuhan," she said.

Pialago said LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz remains open to discussing the program. She noted that there would be no jeepney phaseout under the proposed transport modernization program.

Operators and drivers have to ensure, however, that their vehicles pass the LTFRB's road worthiness test.

"Ang priority ng ating chairman, tiyakin muna na may masakyan. Isusulong ng ating chairman ang open dialogue sa kanila," she said.

"Naniniwala ang... LTFRB na hindi lang naiintindihan ang PUV modernization. Ang una kasing tinatakutan diyan ay jeepney phaseout. Wala namang mangyayaring jeepney phaseout," she said.

"Ang mahalaga ay mag-consolidate na lang muna, magsama-sama... ang operators para sa consolidation natin, ma-meet natin ang deadline sa Dec. 31, 2023."

Consolidation is important, she said, to "confirm" the operator with the LTFRB. This is important as this will serve as the Land Transportation Office's basis for their registration.

"Baka hindi sila makabiyahe next year. Kailangan 'yun," she said.

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The transportation department has been pushing for the PUV modernization project since the previous Duterte administration.

Jeepney drivers and operators oppose the program, saying the new "modern jeepneys" are too expensive and will deprive single-unit operators of route franchises that will then go to big corporations and to transport cooperatives.

Some drivers and operators have argued that upgrading existing jeepneys will be a less expensive way to make them more fuel efficient and environment friendly.

— With a report from Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News