MANILA, Philippines – Transport group PISTON on Friday reiterated its call for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction in light of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
In a 37-page document dated January 18, PISTON filed the motion before the Supreme Court accusing the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has “dismally failed” to address its question as to what the franchise consolidation plays in the plan to “modernize” public transportation.
The document was only made available to reporters on Friday.
Since last year, PISTON has been pressing the High Court to issue a TRO in light of the impending modernization plan slated on December 31, 2023.
The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of the case. It can be given before or during the trial.
“The purpose of modernization, as it would appear, is to marginalize. If the goal is to make transport less reliant on private cars, to lower carbon emissions, or use modern Euro 4 transport, these can be achieved without consolidation and its corresponding penalty of cancellation of franchises,” PISTON said in its motion.
PISTON said a TRO and/or a writ of the preliminary injunction must be issued “to prevent grave, irreparable, and widespread injury not only to the individual operators and jeepney drivers, but to the public in general.”
There are approximately 200,000 units of jeepneys in the country with 76 percent of the total number having already consolidated according to the latest figures from the LTFRB.
The LTFRB likewise said in a Palace briefing that starting February 1, unconsolidated jeepneys will no longer be allowed to operate.
Currently, all jeepneys remain operational in the country, regardless of whether consolidated or not, despite the December 31 deadline. According to transportation authorities, they are given until January 31 to operate.
Around 140,000 drivers and 60,000 small operators could be displaced and lose their jobs once the PUV modernization takes effect.
