CITY OF MALOLOS — An official of a jeepney federation in Bulacan has confirmed that they will not participate in the three-day strike called by the transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON).

Ato Ignacio, chairperson of the Bulacan Federation of Jeepney Drivers and Operators Association, has confirmed to ARKIPELAGO NEWS BULACAN in a telephone interview that their group will not join the transport strike called by PISTON.

He said the federation consists of 17 jeepney drivers and operators associations in Bulacan and majority of it have routes plying the stretch of MacArthur Highway, a major thoroughfare in the province.

However, Ignacio said that their group agrees with PISTON that the impending phaseout of traditional jeepneys in favor of the government’s jeepney modernization program will drastically affect the livelihood of the jeepney drivers and operators.

He explained that under the jeepney modernization program, drivers/operators have to be a member of a cooperative and pointed out that if the cooperative officials commit anomalous transactions then its members will also suffer the consequences.

On the other hand, Ignacio said that the move to modernize the jeepney sector can be attributed to some irresponsible actions of some jeepney operators in conducting their operations by using dilapitated and smoke belching jeepneys.

The government should first check the anomalous smoke belching testings and registration approvals of these dilapitated vehicles, Ignacio noted.

He said that they are in favor of having their vehicles convert to Euro 4 compliant engines.

However, the government should help them procure these engines through soft loans, Ignacio added.