Extend the consolidation deadline by one year not one month—workers’ group

 

The group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called on the government to extend the deadline for consolidation of jeepneys by one year instead of one month as both the government and operators are not yet prepared. Traditional jeepneys with individual franchises have been allowed to continue operating in routes with less than 60% consolidation according to a memo circular from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

 

Moreover, the group supported the call of Senator Koko Pimentel about transparency in the supply of imported minibuses. PM also demanded that locally-made modern jeepneys be prioritized to reduce costs and generate jobs. “Kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan, dun tayo sa mura at gawang Pinoy,” averred Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

 

“The government should make the new year happy for jeepney operators and drivers. President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. can still choose not to be the Grinch that stole their livelihoods. Some 140,000 stand to lose their source of living by February 1, 2024,” stated Magtubo. The figure is based on one operator and one driver for the estimated 70,000 jeepneys which have not consolidated.

The group argued that the one-month delay in the implementation of the consolidation exposes that the government is not ready for the consequences of the jeepney modernization plan. “The government is not willing to admit the reality but it is aware that the public transport system will fail if the hard deadline for consolidation was enforced last January 1. In fact, not only do jeepney operators and drivers stand to lose their means of livelihood but commuters stand to lose their means of transportation,” Magtubo insisted.

 

He added that “The bitter truth is that the government is not ready to implement the phase of jeepney consolidation and the next period of the shift to modernization. Why impose a hard deadline on jeepney operators and drivers when transportation officials cannot even provide hard data on the level of consolidation? In fact, transport officials also cannot give the exact number of LGU’s which already have Local Public Transport Route Plans which is a crucial component of the scheme along with consolidation.”

 

PM reminded the government that it has subscribed to the International Labour Organization’s principle of just transition. “Under just transition, affected workers and communities must be better not worse off as a result of the changes necessitated by climate mitigation and adaptation. But the rushed enforcement of jeepney consolidation which will lead to job losses for drivers and a broken transport system for commuters clearly violate the principle of just transition,” Magtubo explained. 

Press Release

January 4, 2024

Workers in Cebu demand jeepney franchise extension, P150 wage hike in year-end rally

 

In a year-end action today, a delegation of workers and students rallied at the SSS Building along Osmena Boulevard in Cebu City to demand a one-year extension of individual jeepney franchises extension and the passage of the bill for a P150 wage hike.

 

“At the stroke of midnight today, 148,000 will lose their livelihoods. This is conservatively estimated as one operator and one driver for the 74,000 jeepneys units which have not been consolidated either into cooperatives or corporations, according to the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board. This is a significant number, comprising an additional 7% to the 2,090,000 officially unemployed Filipinos as of October 2023,” stated Dennis Derige, Partido Manggagawa (PM)-Cebu spokesperson.

 

Speakers at the rally included the president of the labor union at Lami Foods and a leader of the Guadalupe Women’s Collective. Members of the Cebu chapters of PM and SENTRO joined the picket.

 

Derige explained that “In 14 out of 17 regions, minimum wages were increased by PhP 30 to Php 40 in the second half of this year, bringing them to a high of Php 610 in Metro Manila to a low of PhP 368 in Zamboanga Peninsula. However, the equivalent real wages remain depressed. The PhP 33 hike in Central Visayas raised nominal wage to PhP 468 but the equivalent real wage is only PhP 397. That is, PhP 468 in 2023 can only buy the equivalent of PhP 397 in 2018, or a gap of PhP 71.”

 

He added that “The difference between nominal and real wages is a result of inflation over the years: wage hikes have not kept up with the rise in prices and so workers’ purchasing power has been depleted. The nominal versus real wage gap ranges from PhP 63 in Zamboanga Peninsula to PhP 108 in Central Luzon. Thus the necessity for Congress to plug the gap by enacting the bill for a PhP 150 salary increase.”

 

PM is calling for a just transition for jeepney operators and drivers in the implementation of the modernization program.

 

“The government claimed that 200,000 new jobs were created as a result of investment pledges accruing from the President’s trips abroad. Assuming this is true—the administration still needs to explain how they guessed these figures—it is almost matched by the number of traditional jeepney operators and drivers who will lose their livelihood as a result of the cancellation of their individual franchises. The President does not need a 58% hike in his travel budget to PhP 1.4 billion to generate new jobs, he just needs to extend the individual franchises so that existing livelihoods are preserved,” Derige insisted.

 

Photos and a video of the rally can be accessed here: https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid0T7NQBtzk5mcHnHjCwrdawUnmXS7V9vvZgTco5wBqWuPPcznf2djmJS1trumeNfm9l and https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/videos/1567012827390462 

Press Release

December 31, 2023

The reality of jeepney livelihood loss and the myth of new jobs created

 

In a year end statement, Malacanang avers that 200,000 new jobs were created as a result of investment pledges accruing from President Bong Bong Marcos’ trips abroad. Assuming this is true—Malacanang needs to explain how they guessed these figures—this is almost matched by the number of traditional jeepney operators and drivers who will lose their livelihood as a result of the cancellation of their individual franchises. The President does not need a 58% hike in his travel budget to PhP 1.4 billion to generate new jobs, he just needs to extend the individual franchises so that existing livelihoods are preserved.

 

At the stroke of midnight on December 31, 148,000 will lose their livelihoods. This is conservatively estimated as one operator and one driver for the 74,000 jeepneys units which have not been consolidated either into cooperatives or corporations, according to the Land Transportation and Franchising Board. This is a significant number, comprising an additional 7% to the 2,090,000 officially unemployed Filipinos as of October 2023.

 

The current administration is just implementing a business-as-usual and hands-off approach to employment: let the private sector, whether local or foreign, direct economic development. In place for 50 years or so, this broken system has led us to double-digit unemployment plus underemployment and permanent overseas migration.

 

It is high time to contemplate another and better way: an industrial and agricultural policy that focuses on job creation. The state—not the oligarchs—must direct economic development similar to the East Asian model. This should be at the top of the wish list for 2024.

 

While unemployment in October has gone down to 4.2%, underemployment is more than double at 11.7%. The underemployed are those who want more hours of work, presumably because they do not earn enough. This is a result of the very broad definition of an employed person—somebody who has worked for at least one hour in the previous week! No wonder there is very low official unemployment given that very loose meaning.

 

Another telling statistic that reveals the extent of the problem of lack of quality jobs is the high rate of migration. The latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that almost two million Filipinos worked abroad annually or some 5,000 OFWs were deployed daily. This sums up to about 2.6% of the total population that is over 15 years old. In other words, the unemployment rate would go up by more than half—at the very least—to 6.8% if Filipinos did not leave for gainful employment abroad.

Press Statement

December 28, 2023

Give jeepney operators and drivers a holiday gift: Extend the individual franchise by a year

 

We ask President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr to be nice not naughty. The government should extend the individual franchise of traditional jeepneys by another year as a holiday gift.

The impending revocation of individual franchises by January 1, 2024 threatens the livelihoods of tens of thousands of operators and drivers. Let us not deprive hardworking Filipinos of their means of livelihood as we are all facing economic difficulties with rising prices of basic goods, especially rice, and the harsh impacts of climate change like El Nino.

 

Partido Manggagawa stands in solidarity with our fellow jeepney operators and drivers in their struggle. While strikes do disrupt our daily lives, it is a small sacrifice for the preservation of affordable fares and the continued livelihood of our fellow jeepney operators and drivers.

 

If the outcome of consolidation and modernization is the displacement of informal traditional jeepneys with modern jeepneys under corporate management, this will result in higher fares, exacerbating the hardships of Filipinos amidst inflation.

 

Let us remember how water and electricity rates skyrocketed after privatization and corporations took control of public utilities. The same will happen if corporations take over the routes and franchises on the roads.

 

There is no doubt that the current PUV modernization will lead to a widespread phaseout. The price of modern jeeps exceeds 2 million pesos, making it unaffordable for struggling operators, especially when the promised government subsidy is only 160,000 pesos.

 

While traditional jeepneys should transition to reduce pollution, it bears emphasizing that private vehicles have significantly higher carbon emissions. The transition should result in a better life for jeepney operators and drivers, rather than unemployment. Jeepney cooperatives are a viable alternative to corporations, but they require sufficient time and support. Negotiations should listen to the pleas of jeepney operators and drivers—a just transition amid climate change adaptation.

 

However, such negotiations for a just transition may not happen because the government insists on proceeding with the PUV modernization while pushing the consolidation deadline. Therefore, it is right to oppose the government's stubbornness with the jeepney strike. It will not be a happy new year for jeepney operators and drivers.

December 18, 2023

Women Workers United on IWD demands

WAGES, DIGNIFIED WORK, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION: THE DEMANDS OF WOMEN THIS INTERNATIONAL WORKING WOMEN’S DAY

Women Workers United (WWU) marks the 112th year of the International Working Women’s Day, when we reaffirm our fight against poverty, injustice, inequality, and exploitation of women in all forms. WWU is currently composed of six major organizations: Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Partido Manggagawa (PM), Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), and GABRIELA.

Filipino women find themselves in a time of crisis today. Joblessness is at an all-time high: 7 in 10 Filipinos—mostly women—are being driven into informal, precarious work; inflation is soaring at 9.3%; and violence against women (VAW) has seen a dramatic rise with 1 woman every 20 minutes becoming a victim of rape, physical abuse, lasciviousness, and other forms of VAW. 

Since the ILO High-Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM), in which we participated and submitted a subreport on women workers, we have developed a 15-Point Labor Agenda, within which we have expanded on the plight of women in the world of work.

This International Women’s Day, we reassert our call to (1) protect women workers’ rights to freedom of association and their rights to collective bargaining and negotiation; (2) close the gender wage pay gap and institute a national minimum wage closer to the living wage which is at PHP 1,100; (3) ratify ILO Convention 190; (4) strengthen legal framework and policies to address VAWC; and (5) pass the Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy, among others.

This International Working Women’s Day, we remember the historic role women have played in advancing the people’s vision for a world free from exploitation. Today, we march on and carry the torch of the millions of working women throughout history who overcame society’s impositions on women and asserted their rightful place in the struggle for social justice.

Our fight for justice and equality in all forms continues. This International Working Women’s Day, the women workers of the Philippines march on. Women workers rise. Women workers strike. Women workers stand united.#

References:

GABRIELA Vice Chairperson Joms Salvador

Partido Manggagawa Judy Ann Miranda

Federation of Free Workers Women’s Network Vice President Arta Maines

Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) Jillian Roque

Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK) Spokesperson Jaq Ruiz

Women Workers United

PRESS STATEMENT

08 March 2023

MEDIA ADVISORY: Women workers protest on IWD

MEDIA ADVISORY

for March 8, 2023

Reference: Trish Muli, 0917 865 8720

INTERNATIONAL WORKING WOMEN'S DAY

Women Workers United

1. Women workers dialogue & protest at DOLE

8:00AM assembly at Round Table, Intramuros

8:40AM March to send-off leaders to DOLE

9:00AM–10:00AM Program outside Round Table

10:00AM - Unveiling of WWU challenge, then March to Liwasang Bonifacio

Several women's groups under Women Workers United (WWU) will meet with DOLE officials to get DOLE's support for the ratification of ILO Convention 190, Women in the World of Work, on International Women Workers' Day (IWWD). The groups will also forward cases of labor rights violations against women workers and reiterate ILO-HLTM's recommendations to the PH government.

During the dialogue, around 200 women workers gathered outside will hold a protest action to highlight their issues and demands. WWU will conclude the program with the reveal of the latest unity among the broadest rank of Filipino women workers—their most urgent challenge to the Marcos government.

2. Filipino Women SALUBONGAN

10:30AM at Liwasang Bonifacio

Filipino women workers led by WWU and all other sectors of women will converge at Liwasang Bonifacio. Women leaders from various sectors will hand out roses to women workers to honor their leading role throughout history in the emancipation of women across the world, while women workers will offer bread to women leaders to symbolize the fruits of their labor that feed the peoples of the world.

3. IWWD Program: Women Workers Unite for Wage Hike, Decent Jobs, Accessible Quality Social Services, and Freedom of Association

10:30AM–12:30PM Program at Liwasang Bonifacio

Thousands of Filipino women from several major women's and sectoral organizations will gather for the IWWD program that will register the united call of women for wage, jobs, services, and rights amid severe economic and political crisis in PH. The program will highlight the severe hits suffered by women and Filipinos due to unabated price hikes, anti-people policies that massacres jobs, and the incessant attacks on rights and freedoms led by no less than the highest officials of the land.

4. Filipino Women take the IWWD protest right at the foot of Malacañang

12:30PM March to Mendiola

12:30PM–1:30PM Program at Mendiola

1:30PM Symbolic presentation of Filipino Women's Message to President Marcos Jr.

Women will march to Mendiola to implore Marcos Jr. to finally respond to the crises hounding Filipinos under his reign. Protesters will issue their condemnation of the government's anti-people and pro-foreign capitalist indulgences while Filipinos drown in massive poverty, mounting debts, and growing fascism and militarism.

---

MEDIA COVERAGE IS REQUESTED.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERVIEWS WILL BE FACILITATED.#

Photo from CNN Philippines

 

Pakikiisa sa laban kontra jeepney phaseout

 

Ang nakaambang jeepney phaseout batay sa tinatawag na PUV modernization ay mauuwi sa pagkawala ng hanapbuhay ng daang libong operators at drivers. Ang planong palitan ito ng modern jeepneys sa pamamahala ng mga korporasyon ay magreresulta naman sa mas mataas na pasahe. Ito ay magpapatindi sa kahirapan ng mga Pilipino sa gitna ng hirap ng buhay na dulot walang-tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

 

Nakikiisa ang Partido Manggagawa sa laban ng mga kapatid na jeepney operator at driver. Sumusuporta ang PM sa nakatakdang welga na panawagan ng grupong Manibela. Nananawagan ang PM sa kasapian nito at sa mamamayang Pilipino na makikiisa labang ito.

 

Totoong may epekto ang welga sa normal na takbo ng ating buhay. Pero ito ay maliit na sakripisyo kapalit ng pananatili ng murang pasahe, at pagpapatuloy ng kabuhayan ng mga kapatid na jeepney operator at driver.

 

Alalahanin natin kung paanong nagtaasan ang singil sa tubig at kuryente matapos ang privatization at sagpangin ng mga korporasyon ang public utilities. Ganito din ang mangyayari kapag napunta sa kamay ng mga korporasyon ang mga linya at prangkisa ng mga ruta sa kalsada.

 

Walang dudang ang kasalukuyang PUV modernization ay mangangahulugan ng malawakang phaseout. Ang presyo ng modern jeeps ay lagpas P2 milyon kaya’t di kayang bayaran ng abang operators laluna’t ang pangakong government subsidy ay nasa P160,000 lang.

 

Naninindigan ang PM na dapat itransisyon ang traditional jeepneys upang mabawasan ang polusyon habang inililinaw na mga pribadong sasakyan ang hamak na mas matindi ang carbon emissions. Ang transisyon ay kailangang mauwi sa mas maalwang buhay para sa jeepney operators at drivers sa halip na kawalan ng hanapbuhay. Ang jeepney cooperatives ay tamang alternatiba sa corporations pero nangangailangan ito ng sapat na panahon at suporta. At kailangang pakinggan at dinggin ang hiling at hinaing ng jeepney operators at drivers sa isang negosasyon. Ito ang tinatawag na just transition sa gitna ng pag-aangkop sa climate change.

 

Subalit hindi mangyari ang ganitong negosasyon para sa just transition sapagkat iginiit ng gobyerno na tuloy ang PUV modernization habang inuusog ang deadline ng phaseout. Kaya tama na labanan ng jeepney strike ang pagmamatigas na ito ng gobyerno.

 

Ang laban kontra jeepney phaseout ay laban ng lahat!

Ipaglaban ang murang pasahe at kabuhayan ng jeepney operators at drivers!

 

Partido Manggagawa

Fund service contracting along with pantawid pasada--labor group

 

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) asserted that the government should provide funding for service contracting of jeepneys aside from the pantawid pasada program. The budget for pantawid pasada or fuel subsidies for jeepney drivers was raised to P5 billion in the 2023 national budget but only P1.285 billion was set aside for “libreng sakay” or service contracting of buses and jeepneys. However, news reports state that the P1.285 billion may all be used to fund “libreng sakay” in the EDSA busway.

 

“The better formula is public funding of both fuel subsidies and service contracting for jeepneys. Higher fuel prices are not the only problem of jeepney drivers and operators. Just as bad is the uncertainty brought by the public utility vehicle modernization program of the government. Service contracting will allow jeepney cooperatives who undertook the difficult transition to survive and hopefully thrive,” explained Rene Magtubo, PM national chair and a Marikina city councilor.

 

Magtubo also stated that no funds for the public utility vehicle modernization program has been set aside for this year. This means that no funds are allotted for the P 160,000 state subsidy for operators of traditional jeeps to transition to modern jeeps. Jeepney organizations are calling for the subsidy to be raised to P 500,000 since the cheapest modern jeep now costs P 2 million.

 

Under the service contracting scheme implemented in late 2020, jeepney operators are paid by the government to ply their routes and commuters get to ride for free. This is the same scheme applied in the EDSA busway. Service contracting of both buses and jeepneys was allotted P 5.5 billion under the Bayanihan 2 and then another P 3 billion was budgeted in 2021.

 

The group Move As One Coalition, of which PM is a member, is campaigning for service contracting to shift from being a form of pandemic assistance to being the better normal of public transportation. The group assert that service contracting benefits all actors: commuters through a safe and convenient transport system; jeepney drivers who will gain status as employees of jeepney cooperatives and thus enjoy the rights and benefits of formal workers; and jeepney operators organized in cooperatives who will have guaranteed source of income from service contracts of several years in duration.

January 23, 2023

Partido Manggagawa

Groups call on government to heed demand for “just transition” after successful first day of jeepney strike

The first day of the two-day transport holiday was called a success by groups that launched the jeepney strike. They reiterated their demand on the government to stop the planned jeepney phase-out and instead implement a “just transition.”

Elmer Blancaflor, spokesperson for the Iloilo chapter of Partido Manggagawa (PM) and also president of the United Panay Truck Drivers Association, said that “Jeepney transport was paralyzed in the whole of Panay island. We estimate that 97% of jeepney drivers participated in the strike in Iloilo City, 95% in Roxas City, 95% in Aklan and 100% in Antique and Guimaras.”

PM together with the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union-Sentro are supporting the strike by the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Associations (ICLAJODA) and Confederation of Iloilo Province Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (CIPJODA).

“The unity of the jeepney drivers in Panay should be a wake up call on local governments and the Department of Transportation on the grave impact of their so-called modernization plan. The strike yesterday and today is just a preview of more militant protests if government remains deaf and blind to the demand for a just transition,” explained Blancaflor.

PM describes the just transition as consisting of four steps. First, a transition of five years before full implementation of the phase out. Second, assistance and subsidies to operators for the replacement of jeepneys. Third, a ban on the importation of old and surplus engines and second-hand vehicles. And last, conduct a study on the most appropriate alternative to jeepneys such as electric jeeps or hybrid, LPG or Euro4 engines.

“The livelihood of thousands of jeepney drivers should be benefited not endangered by the shift to environmentally-friendly public transportation. Social justice must accompany social progress,” Blancaflor emphasized.

PM criticized the draft Department of Transportation order mandating a minimum of PhP 7 million as capitalization for jeepney operators. “The capitalization requirement is discriminatory and anti-poor. It will lead to the gentrification of the jeepney sector and the dominance by big capitalists to the detriment of ordinary Filipinos who derive their livelihood as operators at present,” Blancaflor averred.

June 6, 2017

Labor group supports jeepney strike for “just transition”

The militant labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) expressed solidarity with the jeepney drivers who are on strike today and tomorrow in the islands of Panay and Negros in protest at the phase-out scheme of the government.

“Workers do not oppose modernization and the shift to environmentally-friendly public transportation but the transition must be just. Social justice must accompany social progress. The lives and livelihood of thousands of jeepney drivers cannot be sacrificed in the name of change,” declared Elmer Blancaflor, spokesperson for PM-Iloilo and also president of the United Panay Truck Drivers Association.

He added that “We understand and sympathize with the plight of our fellow workers. The temporary inconvenience of the transport holiday cannot compare with the permanent blow that the phase-out will inflict on jeepney drivers. We hope for the understanding of employees, students and commuters who are affected. The fight of jeepney drivers is our fight too.”

The group is supporting a just transition for the jeepney sector in the face of the government’s plan to immediately phase-out PUJ’s that are 15 years and older. PM, the labor center Sentro and its affiliate National Confederation of Transportworkers Union are supporting the strike being launched in Iloilo City and the whole of the Panay island by the groups Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Associations (ICLAJODA) and Confederation of Iloilo Province Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (CIPJODA).

The groups are calling on the government to meet the demand for just transition. Specifically they are demanding a four-point agenda:

1.      Transition of five years before full implementation of the phase out;

2.      Assistance and subsidies to operators for the replacement of jeepneys;

3.      Ban on the importation of old and surplus engines and second-hand vehicles;

4.      Study on the most appropriate alternative to jeepneys such as electric jeeps or hybrid, LPG or Euro4 engines.

Blancaflor also slammed the draft Department of Transportation order requiring PhP 7 million as capitalization for jeepney operators. “The capitalization requirement is discriminatory and anti-poor. It will lead to the gentrification of the jeepney sector and the dominance by big capitalists to the detriment of ordinary Filipinos presently derive their livelihood as operators,” he explained.

PM said that the two-day strike is a just a preview of larger protests and a nationwide strike later if the jeepney drivers’ demands are not met.

June 5, 2017