BALANGA City: Members of the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND) – Bataan on Sunday, December 31, staged a silent protest against government’s public utility modernization program that will lead to the phaseout of traditional public utility jeepneys.
The group shortly held placards near the exit and entrance to the common terminal in Balanga City and silently dispersed.
YND – Bataan spokesman Ayweh Sabino said they sympathized with thousands of operators and drivers of passenger jeepneys and ordinary commuters who will be affected in what they termed as “fake modernization program.”
The youth leader said the vehicles that will replace the traditional jeepneys cost millions of pesos that most of the operators and ordinary drivers cannot afford.
“Dahil sa kamahalan ng bagong unit at upang makabawi sa malaking gastos, ipapatong yon sa pamasahe kaya ang mga pasahero tulad naming mga estudyante at mga magulang namin na araw-araw sumasakay ng jeepney ay magiging apektado rin.
Sabino said they are calling on government not to proceed with the program.
“Hayaan ang mga traditional jeepneys basta ito ay road worthy. Hindi naman ayaw natin sa modernization, ang ayaw lang natin ay ang may madidislokasyon at mawawalan ng hanapbuhay,” he said.
“Ngayon kung gusto talaga ng gubyerno ng makabagong e-jeep na iyan, hayaan nila ang mga driver at operator kung gusto nila at huwag ipilit doon sa mga hindi kaya,” Sabino added.
