A small transport organization deferred Monday its scheduled Metro Manila-wide transport strike scheduled for Tuesday, but another organization threatened to launch protest actions next month to raise issues affecting public utility vehicle drivers and operators.

This developed as the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) President Efren De Luna said they would give the government two weeks to meet their demand for a unified traffic citation scheme in Metro Manila.

“They told us they would act on our problem, that is why we’re giving them a chance to fulfill their promise,” De Luna said of the meeting Monday among officials of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Rep. Mary Ann L. Susano, who heads the House of Representatives Committee on Metro Manila Development and transport organizations.

De Luna’s group wants a unified ticketing system in Metro Manila, saying only the LTO through its Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) is empowered by Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code to issue tickets for traffic violations.

He said the MMDA’s Traffic Violation Receipt (TVR), and the Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) separately issued by Metro Manila LGUs prescribing stiff penalties, have resulted in a dent in income as well as caused confusion among drivers.

On the other hand, the militant transport organization Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) urged its members Monday to prepare for a series of protest actions next month to denounce the alleged overpricing of petroleum products in the country as well as call for the recall of recent directives of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) increasing fines for traffic violations.

“Unlike other groups, Piston will never back down from launching protest actions. We will never get tired of fighting for drivers’ right for a decent living,” Piston Secretary General George San Mateo said.