The dialogue being sought by the national government in a bid to stop the weeklong transport strike next week will only push through if the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would scrap its memorandum circular that sets the June 30 deadline for all drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys to join cooperatives.

The LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2023-013 states that failure to do so would result in the cancellation of the Provisional Authority (PA) given to traditional jeepney operators and drivers to operate in their respective routes.

“We want the LTFRB 2023—013 to be scrapped first or totally cancelled before we would sit down for a dialogue,” said Mar Valbuena, chairman of the transport group Manibela, in an interview over ANC Rundown. 

The transport strike is slated from March 6 to March 12, its intention is to express opposition to the conditions set for the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. 

In the latest post in its Facebook page, Manibela said the transport strike will push through.

Valbuena confirmed that there was indeed a meeting with government representatives and transport groups on Wednesday, Feb. 28—the intention is to have a dialogue to stop the transport strike.

But he said the meeting only pushed them to continue with their plan as he accused some LTFRB officials of engaging in black propaganda against him.

“I don’t know if the DOTr (Department of Transportation) Secretary Jaime Bautista is aware of this but they (LTFRB) officials made some statements which defeats the intention of the dialogue,” said Valbuena. 

Manibela and some transport groups have been opposing the deadline set by the LTFRB for all traditional jeepney operators and drivers, saying it is too short period and likewise leads to monopoly.

The LTFRB Circular states that the extension of the PA for traditional operators and drivers until December 30 this year would only be given to those who would be able to join or create a cooperative before June 30.  

Valbuena said this means that those who would not be able to comply will be under threat of impoundment of their jeepneys.

Valbuena also revealed that some of jeepney drivers and operators who complied since 2021 found themselves being left out after the LTFRB decided not to consider their application for meeting the deadline.

He argued that the LTFRB should have considered the fact that the applications were filed at the time of pandemic lockdowns wherein the processing of papers is difficult.

Valbuena also disclosed that the LTFRB is pushing for traditional jeepney drivers and operators to join cooperatives that it approved---which he said would only lead to monopoly.

In fact, he said some of the cooperatives were able to take in routes that are not supposed to be covered by their memberships, explaining that a cooperative should be composed of drivers and operators of a particular route.