NextGen Day

On Friday, a labor organization expressed satisfaction with the government’s upcoming “Libreng Sakay” (free rides) program.

Rene Magtubo, national chairwoman of the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), however, condemned the EDSA Bus Carousel system’s proposed privatization in a statement.

For commuters and employees, free rides on EDSA are welcome news. However, once implemented, privatizing the EDSA carousel will result in increased prices without better service. The colossal failure of privatizing water and energy should have taught us a lesson. The country has the highest electricity prices in all of Asia, and water concessionaires cannot offer round-the-clock service, he continued.

According to Magtubo, the free ride helped working people save money and time on their commute.

Instead of the normal “seller-buyer” connection that existed under the privately-run utilities that we had for many years, he continued, “converting the system into a cooperative-run busway may provide an alternative economy, as well as a synergy to both the coop workers and the commuting public.”

In addition to considering various models, such as cooperatives, for the operation of the EDSA busway, Magtubo stated that the government must maintain authority over international airports.

“There are other instances of state-owned and -operated airports and public transit systems that are successful in other parts of the world, including those in Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Singapore, and Canada. Even the US has not adopted privatization for the management of its 5,000 public airports. At the same time, our neighbor Hong Kong continues to have the best mass transit system in the world, according to Magtubo.

The public may access these networks and airports for affordable and effective transportation options, as well as a crucial source of jobs and tax revenue, he continued.

Additionally, he refuted claims that trade unions are in favor of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) plan to privatize the EDSA busway.

“The labor movement rejects the notion that a privatized transportation system should be the norm around the world and maintains that privatization is not a cure-all for our problems with public transportation. Many economies still maintain publicly run and effectively managed mass transit networks, according to the labor leader.

The government’s Service Contracting program has received PHP1.285 billion this year as part of the DOTr budget, according to an announcement made on Thursday by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Due to financing concerns, the free rides were discontinued on December 31st of last year.

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