UPDATED NEWS: Piston- tutol sa modernize jeeneys na gusto ni Pang. Duterte, nagbanta ng buwanang strike?

“Kapag hindi po pinakinggan ng Pangulo ito, 'sinusumpa po namin, gagawin namin itong welgang ito buwan-buwan, dahil wala na kaming choice. 'Sinandal na kami ng pamahalaan sa pader,” San Mateo said in his speech on Tuesday, October 17, during their rally along Aurora Boulevard.
The demand comes after Piston repeatedly asked for a one-on-one with Duterte for them to make their grievances known. The main reason for their two-day strike: the Department of Transportation (DOTr)’s jeepney modernization program which plans to replace all jeepneys at least 15 years old by 2020.
Piston is still deciding on how many days a month they plan to hold the strike, but San Mateo was confident in saying that their drivers are willing to lose days of income every month for their voices to be heard.
“He has time for businessmen. He has time for soldiers. He has time for police officers. But how come for drivers and operators, he doesn't have time?” said George San Mateo, the leader of Piston, to CNN. “Now, if the President continues to ignore us, even if this second day of protest isn't done, we will prepare another strike.” 

President Duterte is engaged in a word war with Piston, or the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston), over their two day strike held from October 16 to 17.

The strike was staged to protest the implementation of the PUV modernization act; a law that will see older jeepneys (15 years or over) be outlawed in favor of more eco-friendly alternatives, particularly those with engines that meet Euro-4 emission standards.

The Department of Transportation have released the terms of the PUV modernization act to assuage the drivers with its benefits. The DOTr estimates that drivers will save up to 43% in fuel due to the more efficient Euro-4 rated engines, along with a higher 22 passenger capacity. The new vehicles will benefit local manfucturers as all will be designed and manufactured here, creating jobs. The program also mandates a rebate of up to PhP 80,000 for every old jeepney and a loan program with a 6% interest rate, 5% equity, and a maximum 7-year amortization term.

"I'll give you until the end of the month or until the end of the year, you have to follow because by January 1, if I see jeepney that is not registered, old, I will tow it in front of you,” the President was quoted as saying by SunStar. “If the government says it want to protect public health and public interest, you have to follow it.”