Piston Cebu vows to hold more protest actions against plan to phase out old PUJs
After last Monday’s protest caravan, the Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) Cebu warned of more protest actions as it continued to oppose the government’s plan to phase out old public utility jeepneys (PUJs).
“That was just the first of many actions that we are going to stage,” Greg Perez, Piston Cebu coordinator, said in Cebuano in yesterday’s 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza.
The transport group is asking the Department of Transportation not to pursue the planned phaseout of 15-year-old PUJs.
“In the previous government, they called it phaseout, but in this administration, they call it modernization wherein by 2020, no more PUJs will be allowed on the roads,” said Perez.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade is set to sign the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) on June 19. The OFG will lift the moratorium on the application for new franchises to be granted to PUV operators.
Under the modernization program, 15-year-old units will be purchased by the government. PUJs will then be replaced by electric and Euro 4 engine-powered jeepneys.
Perez said phasing out PUJs will affect 15,000 drivers and 3,000 operators in the Visayas.
“Each electric jeepney costs between P1.2 million and P1.6 million. Operators cannot afford that especially that they will be required to acquire at least 10 units so that they will be issued with a franchise,” said Perez.
Since electric jeepneys are expensive, fares will also be high, said Perez.
“This will not only affect the drivers and the operators but also the commuters. Some are already complaining of the P7-fare, so what will happen if fares further increase?” he said.
Instead of pursuing the modernization plan, the group is urging the government to focus instead on having mass transport system.
“If they go for mass transport system, the transportation, either buses or trains, must be made here in our country so that there will be no need to charge higher fares,” he said.
Also, instead of phasing out old jeeneys, the government should instead help operators restore old vehicles, Perez said.
“There are vehicles that are already old but remain roadworthy since the parts have already been replaced with new ones,” said Perez.
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