President Duterte Declares No Classes In All Levels, Gov’t Work Nationwide On October 16
President Rodrigo Duterte suspended classes in all levels,
both public and private schools, and government work nationwide as drivers and
operators of public utility jeepneys schedule a nationwide strike.
This was confirmed by Presidential Communications Secretary
Martin Andanar, who, however, said the suspension of classes and government
work covers only Monday, October 16.
The suspension of work does not include the private sector.
The President is giving private employers the discretion whether to suspend
work.
Except for Davao City, the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga
Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) will launch a two-day transport strike
to protest the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
PISTON aimed to express sentiments of the jeepney drivers
and operators against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
(LTFRB) Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, which pushes for the modernization of
public utility vehicles.
According to PISTON Chairman Charito Junares, a majority of
the drivers and operators could not afford to buy the units because it would
require them to put up Php1.2 to Php1.6 million to own one unit.
He said that if the small jeepneys or the so-called
multi-cabs would be deployed to the routes of the tricycles, it could trigger
trouble among the drivers.
Manuel “Maning” Duran, chair of the Southeastern Mindanao
Diversified Drivers and Operators Cooperative (SEMDDOC), said his group is also
joining the jeepney strike.
He said most of the chapter presidents have signified their
support to the strike.
SEMDDOC has more or less 6,000 members both drivers and
operators with 24 routes such as Mintal, Calinan, and Toril.
Duran said many cannot afford the modernization program much
more borrow money from the bank to buy the new jeepneys.
He said most operators cannot even afford to replace or
rehabilitate their jeepneys.
According to Duran, a real modernization program is the
Mindanao railway system.
He said the transport strike is their way of expressing
their sentiments, but they cannot really do anything if the government insists.
Old jeepneys would eventually just fizzle out in the light
of more modern transport because the commuters or passengers have become
choosy, he said.
Duran was concerned that a driver will lose a one-day income
at an average of Php500 if he will not work.
The government, however, envisions the PUV modernization
program to meet safety, energy efficiency, and emission standards in order to
enhance commuter convenience.
Under the modernization program, jeepney units that are 15
years old will be replaced with Euro 4 engines or electrically-powered engines
with solar panels for roofs.
Units will also be equipped with closed-circuit television
(CCTV) cameras, a GPS navigation system, an Automatic Fare Collection System
(AFCS), speed limiters, dashboard cameras, and Wi-Fi.
On Friday, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the suspension
of classes in all levels in Davao City on Monday, but in anticipation of lack
of public utility vehicles during the strike, the city mayor ordered the
deployment of buses to cater to stranded commuters, especially the workers.
While she respects the planned transport strike on Monday, Mayor
Duterte-Carpio enjoined protesters to practice self-restraint in their actions
as authorities would not tolerate crimes that would be committed during the
strike.
Watch the video report below via PTV:
Source: PTV
President Duterte Declares No Classes In All Levels, Gov’t Work Nationwide On October 16
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October 15, 2017
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