Groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) and Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (MANIBELA) held protest rallies on Monday, May 6, across Metro Manila.
The groups opposed the national government's public utility vehicle modernization program during the rallies held in Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Pasig.
WATCH: Mga miyembro ng PISTON at Manibela, sanib-pwersang nagkilos-protesta sa Pasig Palengke | RH 52 @ednielparrosa, DZRH News#SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/2pWuF71rAy
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 6, 2024
Dario Banayat, president of the MANIBELA - Las Piñas chapter, vowed to continue to operate even if the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) tags them as colorum for failing to comply with the PUV consolidation.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) gave PUV operators and drivers until April 30 to join transport cooperatives and companies or else risk becoming colorum.
"Itong aming traditional jeep ay hindi namin isusuko sa LTFRB dahil ito ay aming kabuhayan. Ayaw namin na magutom ang aming pamilya kaya tuloy-tuloy pa rin kami na bibiyahe," Banayat told DZRH.
Banayat also urged other drivers and operators of public utility jeepneys to oppose the PUV modernization program.
'IPAGLALABAN PO NAMIN 'YAN'
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 5, 2024
WATCH: Nanawagan ang ilang miyembro ng Manibela sa Las Piñas sa kapwa-miyembro na makisama sa panawagang 'No to PUV phase out' | RH 27 @cacas_noche, DZRH News #SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/2KJuEhlrsT
