PISTON President George San Mateo Buys 3 Brand New Passenger Jeepneys

George San Mateo, president of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON), revealed on Tuesday, March 20 that he has already bought three brand new passenger jeepneys. His revelation comes a day the group held a transport strike in Metro Manila, urging the government to junk its jeepney modernization program.

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“Opo, bumili na po ako ng 3 brand new na pampasaherong jeep at binayaran ko siya ng cash kaninang umaga lang. Ang totoo, matagal ko nang planong bumili ng mga iyan pero kulang pa ang pera ko noon. Inalok ako ng hulugan buwan-buwan pero tinanggihan ko kasi napakataas.” San Mateo said in a radio interview, this Tuesday afternoon.

(Yes, I bought 3 brand new passenger jeepneys and I paid cash this morning. The truth is, I have been planning to buy them before but my money was not yet enough. I was offered to pay them via installment basis but I declined because the monthly payment was too high.)

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“Ngayon, di na pwede sabihin sa akin ng mga tao na di ko nararamdaman ang mga paghihirap ng mga drayber at operators dahil wala akong sariling jeep. (Now, people cannot tell I don’t feel the sufferings of jeepney drivers and operators because I don’t own one.)” He added. However, he did not say how much the jeepneys cost. But based on estimates, a brand new 20-seater passenger jeepney would cost P700,000-P900,000.

In an earlier statement, San Mateo said that their March 19 transport strike was successful, saying that around 90% of their drivers in Metro Manila stopped driving that day. This is contrary to the statement of the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (iACT), saying that only 1,900 out of the 4.5 million daily commuters were stranded due to the strike.



Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has announced the suspension of classes this Tuesday. “The President has instructed that he will suspend classes even with the slightest threat of a strike to ensure the protection and well-being of students,” he said. However, San Mateo said that the jeepney strike was only on Monday.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao