By Villamor Visaya
SANTIAGO CITY, Nov 23 (PNA) — Transport groups and militants have publicly aired their grievances regarding the impending phaseout of all jeepneys and vans with Land Transportation Office registration 15 years ago and above starting January 1 next year.
Randy Felix Malayao, Bayan-Cagayan Valley convenor, said the jeepney operators and drivers have condemned the reported haphazard phaseout, saying that they will be rendered jobless and without any alternative livelihood.
Cita Managuelod, anti-phaseout facilitator, said the opposition was an offshoot of the Department of Transportation and Communication’s order to ease out old vehicles, initially phasing out vans and minibus even if some are reported to be still roadworthy.
“We deny the livelihood of about 90-percent of drivers and operators, aside from denying the public of common mode of transportation,” she said.
The public utility jeepneys modernization program has mandated all operators to buy units, including costly electronically-run vehicles, which are not suitable to the terrain in the region, Malayao said.
The program has been supported by giant automobile manufacturing firms and the government’s compliance to the APEC transportation roadmap. (PNA)