MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday warned jeepney drivers and operators against joining a scheduled transport strike next week.

Militant transport group Piston announced it was holding another transport strike on December 4 and 5, to protest the government’s jeepney modernization program which seeks to replace old jeepney units with electronic vehicles.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said there was no word yet whether the government will suspend classes and work during the 2-day strike as it did during the previous strike last October 16 and 17.

Roque however warned jeepney drivers and operators of the consequences of joining the strike.

“The LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) is correct in saying that the holders of public franchise and conveniences are precluded from joining such action. And therefore expect that their participation will come with the legal consequences as far as the award of the certificate of public convenience is concerned,” Roque said in a news conference in Malacañang.

Piston has decried the government’s plan to phase out old jeepney units with new ones which are compliant with Euro 4 emission standard, saying it will further bury poor jeepney drivers in debt.