Charles Teves
Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal Rights (DUMPER) Party-list Rep. Claudine Diana Bautista-Lim has finally touched on the transport strike that has negatively affected schools.
At the start of the strike, different personalities and politicians shared their stances.
Vice President Sara Duterte even called it “communist-inspired.”
“The transport strike is a painful interference in our efforts to provide solutions to the problems besetting our education system and will only exacerbate the learning hardships of our students,” she said.
Duterte disapproved of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) for supporting the transportation strike, implying that the group is not truly serving the interests of students and teachers and that their actions reveal their true intentions.
However, Bautista-Lim remained silent, and people noticed.
Kinakatawan niya sa Kongreso ang mga drayber ng mga pampublikong sasakyan. Bakit ang tahimik nito sa issue ng #JeepneyPhaseout? pic.twitter.com/M0BexrNA1H
— FERDINANDAYA (@Homeboy56581258) March 2, 2023
Bautista-Lim was against ABS-CBN, too.
Ang ingay nya noon sa ABS-CBN Shutdown pero NANANAHIMIK aa ISYU NG JEEPNEY PHASE OUT.
Nakapwesto dapat sana ipagtanggol ang boses ng mga drayber pero mas pinili manahimik at himurin ang pwet ni Dayunyor. Nasaan si Rep. Claudine Bautista? #NoToJeepPhaseOut #NoToJeepneyPhaseOut pic.twitter.com/dj5uXjdPcf
— Ren Corporal ✨ (@RENderred) March 6, 2023
'BOSES NG BAWAT DRAYBER AT KOMYUTER'?
READ: DUMPER PTDA Party-list Rep. Claudine Bautista, Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Transportation, on the jeepney phaseout.https://t.co/DdkMrFaCLs pic.twitter.com/z8WtOE0LlA
— iMPACT Leadership (@iMPACTPH2019) March 2, 2023
"Rep. Claudine Bautista, Boses ng Bawat Drayber at Komyuter" HAHAHAHAHA CLOWNS pic.twitter.com/U0S7eniVpA
— Roz G. HAPPY MINTY FRESH DAY (@lavieenrozeeee_) March 5, 2023
Nasaan ka Claudine Bautista? https://t.co/eh2VlXHNa6
— Meowchie (@Meowchie_) March 4, 2023
After facing backlash, Bautista-Lim has finally made noise.
During her meeting with the DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, the lawmaker intends to present ideas including buying modernized jeepneys made in the country instead of importing, extending financing terms, and boosting subsidies.
The plan is to replace traditional public utility jeeps (PUJs) with modern jeeps, which are costly. The shift to this revised system through consolidation has been challenging for PUJ drivers. As a result, PUJ drivers are preparing to stage a nationwide strike next week.
DUMPER PTDA has informed the DOTr that they are willing to offer free rides in the event of a transport strike.
The proposed strike is in response to the expensive cost of replacing traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) with modern jeeps, which has caused significant issues for PUJ drivers.
Despite this, Bautista-Lim has assured PUJ drivers and operators that switching to modern jeeps does not necessarily mean the phase-out of traditional jeepneys by the end of the year.
It can be recalled that Bautista-Lim was one of the 70 lawmakers who voted “Yes” to the resolution rejecting ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
