Transport group in Cebu City nixes week-long strike
Published Mar 3, 2023 09:22 am
CEBU CITY – A group of transport operators here will not join the nationwide week-long transport strike starting Monday, March 6.
NOVY Medallo, president of the Cebu Federation of Transport Cooperatives, explains the reason why their group is not joining the planned week-long transport strike beginning Monday. (Calvin D. Cordova)
Members of the Cebu Federation of Transport Cooperatives (CFTC) said they cannot support the strike as they are in favor of the government’s PUV modernization program. The week-long transport holiday protests Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Circular Memorandum No. 2023-013 which sets the deadline for the phase out of traditional jeepneys on June 30. “We are fully supporting the government’s PUV modernization program. 100 hundred percent, we condemn, we oppose the planned strike,” Novy Medallo, president of FCTC, said in a press briefing on Friday, March 3. Medallo said holding a strike against the modernization program will not do any good and will only affect commuters. “Wala ni padulngan (This (strike) will lead to nowhere). The commuters will suffer a lot,” said Meddalo. Instead of holding a strike, transport groups should instead reach out to the government to thresh out their grievances, Medallo said. “Our government is open anytime. We have proven that the LTFRB is always open to listen to our grievances and in helping us comply with the requirements in relation to the modernization program,” Medallo said. Medallo said CFTC has six transport cooperatives under its wings. “We have six official members for now because we are still processing the papers of other cooperatives which applied to become members of CFTC. The federation represents more than 500 PUVs in Metro Cebu,” Medallo said. Ellen Maghanoy, vice chairman of CFTC, said the modernization program has been very effective in easing the financial burden for those who are in the transport industry. “There was no cash out when individual operators were urged to consolidate and form a cooperative. With the coop, drivers and PAOs (public assistance officers) have steady income,” said Maghanoy. With the modernization program, the earnings of drivers and PAOs (conductors) are not dependent on how much they will earn from the whole day of plying. Medallo said a driver who is a coop member is paid P500 daily, while a PAO gets P434 a day. Coop members are also enrolled under PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and Social Security System and are also entitled to receive shares from the organization’s income. “Once they are regularized, they can also avail of loans,” said Medallo. Maghanoy added even those who are too old to drive can still earn if they are members of a transport coop. “They are assigned in the carpool or in the car wash facility,” Maghanoy said. During the media event, at least 16 transport cooperatives expressed their support to the modernization program. The group also read a manifesto expressing its support to LTFRB-Central Visayas director Eduardo Montealto Jr. Another transport group, the Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative, has announced that it is planning to hold a transport holiday to call for Montealto’s ouster. The group accused Montealto of enforcing some questionable policies.
NOVY Medallo, president of the Cebu Federation of Transport Cooperatives, explains the reason why their group is not joining the planned week-long transport strike beginning Monday. (Calvin D. Cordova)
Members of the Cebu Federation of Transport Cooperatives (CFTC) said they cannot support the strike as they are in favor of the government’s PUV modernization program. The week-long transport holiday protests Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Circular Memorandum No. 2023-013 which sets the deadline for the phase out of traditional jeepneys on June 30. “We are fully supporting the government’s PUV modernization program. 100 hundred percent, we condemn, we oppose the planned strike,” Novy Medallo, president of FCTC, said in a press briefing on Friday, March 3. Medallo said holding a strike against the modernization program will not do any good and will only affect commuters. “Wala ni padulngan (This (strike) will lead to nowhere). The commuters will suffer a lot,” said Meddalo. Instead of holding a strike, transport groups should instead reach out to the government to thresh out their grievances, Medallo said. “Our government is open anytime. We have proven that the LTFRB is always open to listen to our grievances and in helping us comply with the requirements in relation to the modernization program,” Medallo said. Medallo said CFTC has six transport cooperatives under its wings. “We have six official members for now because we are still processing the papers of other cooperatives which applied to become members of CFTC. The federation represents more than 500 PUVs in Metro Cebu,” Medallo said. Ellen Maghanoy, vice chairman of CFTC, said the modernization program has been very effective in easing the financial burden for those who are in the transport industry. “There was no cash out when individual operators were urged to consolidate and form a cooperative. With the coop, drivers and PAOs (public assistance officers) have steady income,” said Maghanoy. With the modernization program, the earnings of drivers and PAOs (conductors) are not dependent on how much they will earn from the whole day of plying. Medallo said a driver who is a coop member is paid P500 daily, while a PAO gets P434 a day. Coop members are also enrolled under PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and Social Security System and are also entitled to receive shares from the organization’s income. “Once they are regularized, they can also avail of loans,” said Medallo. Maghanoy added even those who are too old to drive can still earn if they are members of a transport coop. “They are assigned in the carpool or in the car wash facility,” Maghanoy said. During the media event, at least 16 transport cooperatives expressed their support to the modernization program. The group also read a manifesto expressing its support to LTFRB-Central Visayas director Eduardo Montealto Jr. Another transport group, the Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative, has announced that it is planning to hold a transport holiday to call for Montealto’s ouster. The group accused Montealto of enforcing some questionable policies.