Manila Today
Students and youth groups led by One Taft Against Tyranny and Fascism (One-TAFT) participated in the week-long transport strike.
Kabataan Partylist representative Raoul Manuel said it is like reliving the memory of Diliman Commune where students and drivers led mobilizations to protest the continuing oil price surge.
One Taft helped jeepney drivers and operators of Agua Joda PISTON in their protest point along Agoncillo St. in Ermita, Manila. During the second leg of the strike, situation discussions, workshops, and cultural performances were conducted.
The jeepney drivers and students also took to the streets to carry out support from their fellow students, vendors, and others through a signature campaign as well as posting sticker on public walls or posts.
“Nananawagan ang One Taft ng mga donasyon para sa mga drayber at operator ng Taft Jeepney Lines upang makatulong sa panustos sa kanilang isinasagawang Transport Strike laban sa Omnibus Franchise Guidelines (OFG) ng Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB),” said One Taft in a statement.
[One Taft is calling for donations for drivers and operators of Taft Jeepney Lines to help fund their ongoing Transport Strike against the Omnibus Franchise Guidelines (OFG) of the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)]
A series of transport strikes have since reverberated in March and in October to protest the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) as well as the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) put up by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board LTFRB).
According to jeepney drivers, such PUVMP will only pave the way to push for a modernization that could not be afforded by them as low-wage earners. Hence, it would also be a pain among commuters who are used to riding PUVs or PUJs.
It must be noted that the LTFRB is pushing jeepney drivers and operators to undergo franchising consolidation until December 31. Transport group PISTON affirmed jeepney drivers would not consider such “deception” and echoed for its abolition.
