PISTON (transport group)

PISTON
Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide,
PISTON Land Transport Coalition
Formation1981 (1981)
HeadquartersManila
Location
President
Mody Floranda
Secretary General
Steve Ranjo
AffiliationsKilusang Mayo Uno
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
ITF
ILPS
Websitehttps://pistonph.com

Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (lit. 'Solidarity of Drivers and Operators' Organizations Nationwide'), also known by its abbreviation PISTON, is a national federation of public transport associations in the Philippines. It is affiliated with the Philippine trade union center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

Internationally, PISTON is affiliated with the International Transport Workers' Federation.

Background

PISTON is a national federation of drivers and operators' associations focusing on issues related to the public transportation sector, especially the rights of drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) – including jeepneys, taxis, vans, multicabs, tricycles, pedicabs and buses.[1]

Additionally, PISTON aims to promote and advance the basic demands of Filipino transport workers for decent and stable work, livable income, and all their democratic rights.[2]

History

PISTON was established in 1981 upon the consolidation of the Kilusang Mayo Uno's "transportation committee".[3]

In August 1987, PISTON joined KMU in staging nationwide protests against rising petroleum prices, resulting in the arrest of several PISTON members such as president Medardo Roda on sedition charges by the Western Police District (WPD) on August 26.[4] Roda was eventually allowed to post bail a week later upon the ruling of the Supreme Court in his favor.[5] On November 21, 1988, Roda was arrested again on the charge of sedition by WPD superintendent Alfredo Lim after holding a press conference at the National Press Club encouraging PISTON members to join a wildcat transport strike being held nationwide.[6] A day later, the Supreme Court ordered Lim to present Roda before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge Felix Barbers and answer accusations that Roda was illegally arrested,[7] but early in the following day, Lim also arrested PISTON secretary general Deogracias Espiritu at his home for the same charges.[8] On November 25, the Supreme Court ordered the WPD to transfer custody of Roda to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), then headed by lawyer and activist Jesus Antonio Carpio, and to present Espiritu before RTC judge Barbers.[9] By April 1990, Roda was sentenced to four to six years in prison for inciting to sedition, but was released on bail pending his appeal. Later that year, however, Roda would be arrested two more times for his participation in further protests.

As a partylist organization

PISTON
Political positionLeft[10]
National affiliationMakabayan
ColorsBlue, Red, Yellow
Sector representedPublic transport drivers and operators

PISTON has attempted in the past to have partylist representation in the House of Representatives.

They have applied to take part in the 2013 election. The Commission on Election unanimously approved their application since they have established that they are representing drivers.[11] However the candidacy was subject to a disqualification case due to allegedly violating campaign posters rules and was barred from getting seats in the legislature.[12][13]

The petition was ruled "defective for the lack of specificity" and PISTON was eventually allowed to take part in the 2016 election.[13] They did not win a seat. They were disqualified for the 2019 election, due to failure to win a seat in the past two elections.[14]

Electoral performance

ElectionVotes%Party-list seats
2013 174,9760.63%
0 / 58
2016 89,3840.28%
0 / 59

Activism

No To Jeepney Phaseout Mobilization, 2023
PISTON participating in a protest against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. March 6, 2023.

In 2013, PISTON launched a campaign directed to the Philippines' main petroleum companies, Petron, Shell, and Chevron to condemn against an oil price hike. They have also urged the abolishment of the Oil Deregulation Law in 2015.[1]

They have also opposed the mandatory phaseout of old vehicles under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. They had participated in strikes in protest of the program in 2015,[1] 2017 to 2019[15][16][17] and 2023.[18] In 2024, Manibela joined PISTON in the Labour Day protest against the government’s jeepney modernization program.[19]

On September 18, 2025, amid the flood control projects scandal in the Philippines, PISTON staged a nationwide strike to protest growing government corruption, explaining how floods result in a loss of livelihood and additional expenses for jeepney drivers and their families.[20]

On April 19, 2024, the demurrer to evidence filed by Piston officer Ruben Baylon Severino Ramos, Wilson Ramilla, Ramon Paloma, Elmer Cordero, and Arsenio Ymas - "Piston 6" was granted by Caloocan City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 83 Presiding Judge Marlo Bermejo Campanilla. The acquittal of the 6 stemmed from their arrest for conducting a peaceful protest near Monumento Circle in Caloocan on June 2, 2020, during COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines. They were charged with simple "Resistance or Disobedience" under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code.[21][22]

On May 14, 2024, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, instead of issuing a TRO, required the defendants Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to answer within 10 days, the April 29 temporary restraining order-supplemental petition of PISTON. On the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, the Court further required submission of status updates on consolidating PUV franchises on a per-route basis, on the Local Public Transport Route Plan per locality and the Route Rationalization Plan, and the hearings before the House of Representatives, said Supreme Court spokesperson Attorney Camille Sue Mae L. Ting.[23][24]

List of presidents and secretaries general

President

Vice president

  • Rolando Mingo (2007–2012)[28]

Secretary general

  • Deogracias Espiritu (1980s)
  • Steve Ranjo (–2007; 2012–present)[27][29][30]
  • George F. San Mateo (2007–2012)[27]

Deputy secretary general

  • Joel Ascutia (2007–2011)[31]
  • Ruben Baylon (2019–present)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ansis, JC (December 14, 2015). "Piston: Continuing to fight for the transport sector". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ "About us - PISTON Land Transport Coalition PISTON Land Transport Coalition". February 4, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Umil, Anne Marxze (September 11, 2010). "Inspiring Pioneer of Philippine Drivers' Movement Gave His Final 'Boundary'". Bulatlat. Retrieved April 8, 2026. Under the sham lifting of martial rule [in 1981], Ka Roda was elected at first as third vice president of PISTON, but a few months later he started serving as its president.
  4. ↑ Standard Staff, The (August 28, 1987). "'Welga' leaders held; general strike called: KMU sets action next week". Manila Standard. Vol. I, no. 199. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved April 8, 2026. The arrested protesters included Medardo R. Roda, a top KMU official[....] Roda said his 'invitation' for questioning became an 'arrest'[...]
  5. ↑ "Release Roda on bail — SC". Manila Standard. Vol. I, no. 204. September 2, 1987. p. 6. Retrieved April 8, 2026. [Medardo] Roda[...] appeared before the Supreme Court yesterday morning during an open court hearing on his petition for habeas corpus.
  6. ↑ Ignacio, Bert; de los Santos, Bong (November 22, 1988). "Jeepney strike strands hundreds of thousands". Manila Standard. Vol. II, no. 286. p. 2. Retrieved April 8, 2026. WPD chief Brig. Gen. Alfredo Lim ordered the filing of sedition charges against PISTON head Medardo Roda[...]
  7. ↑ "Drivers Threaten Further Strike". Far East Broadcasting Company. Manila. November 22, 1988. Retrieved May 17, 2025 – via Daily Report: East Asia. The Supreme Court ordered Manila police chief General Alfredo Lim to answer charges[...]
  8. ↑ Ignacio, Lamberto (November 24, 1988). "'Piston' OIC held: Manhunt on for KMU vice chairman". Manila Standard. Vol. II, no. 288. p. 4. Retrieved April 8, 2026. Espiritu was the second officer of the drivers' group [PISTON] to be arrested and charged with inciting to sedition.
  9. ↑ Lanuza, Angelo (November 26, 1988). "Release Piston head to NBI, police told". Manila Standard. Vol. II, no. 290. p. 4. Retrieved April 8, 2026. In a resolution, the high court ordered Western Police District superintendent Alfredo Lim to transfer [Medardo] Roda to NBI director J. Antonio Carpio's custody[...]
  10. ↑ "Regulator sees destabilization attempt in transport strike". CNN Philippines. October 15, 2017. Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ Reyes, Fat (November 16, 2012). "Comelec OKs Piston, 12 more partylist groups". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Comelec might drop 3 groups from party list". Rappler. March 11, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Salamat, Marya (February 16, 2015). "Piston Partylist ok to run in partylist race, Comelec says". Bulatlat. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  14. ↑ Patinio, Ferdinand (March 20, 2018). "24 groups disqualified from 2019 party-list polls". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Piston claims 90% success in strike". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 17, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  16. ↑ Gaea Katreena Cabico (March 19, 2018). "Piston holds another transport strike against jeepney phaseout". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ Romina Cabera (September 13, 2019). "Nationwide transport strike set Sept. 30". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  18. ↑ Reyes, Dempsey (March 5, 2023). "Piston to join jeepney strike: Delaying phaseout not enough". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ Demayo, Mark (May 1, 2024). "Transport groups join Labor Day protest". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  20. ↑ Sampang, Dianne (September 18, 2025). "Piston stages transport strike vs growing corruption in PH". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  21. ↑ Bolledo, Jairo (April 19, 2024). "Caloocan court acquits jeepney drivers sued for protesting during lockdown". Rappler. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  22. ↑ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (April 19, 2024). "Charges vs 'Piston 6' drivers arrested during peaceful protest junked". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  23. ↑ Torres-Tupas, Tetc (May 14, 2024). "SC asks DOTr, LTFRB to comment on PUV modernization TRO plea". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  24. ↑ Torres-Tupas, Tech (April 29, 2024). "Transport group asks SC to stop April 30 PUV consolidation deadline". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  25. ↑ Tandoc Jr., Edson C. (August 18, 2003). "Driver's license in a week?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 18, no. 251. p. A21. Retrieved April 8, 2026. Medardo Roda, president emeritus of the transport group PISTON[...]
  26. ↑ Remollino, Alexander Martin (April 4–10, 2004). "Drivers' Nationwide Strike Cripples Transport". Bulatlat. Vol. IV, no. 10. Retrieved April 8, 2026. Mar Garvida, Piston national president, said jeepney drivers spend some P540 on diesel everyday[...]
  27. 1 2 3 4 Salamat, Marya (September 23, 2011). "Piston's George San Mateo, a progressive transport leader". Bulatlat. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  28. ↑ Olea, Ronalyn V. (October 4, 2008). "27 Southern Tagalog Activists Charged with Burning of Globe Cell Site". Bulatlat. Retrieved April 8, 2026. [...] Rolando Mingo, National Vice-President of PISTON and Regional Secretary-General of STARTER-PISTON[...]
  29. ↑ Marquez, Ma. Consuelo D. P. (August 12, 2018). "Income of small businesses take a hit ahead of Train 2". The Varsitarian. Retrieved April 8, 2026. Steve Ranjo, secretary general of Piston transport group[...]
  30. ↑ Bautista, Pauline Nicole; Moya, Robb Nigel (September 3, 2023). "Jeepney modernization program: Drivers have a steep price to pay". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines. Retrieved April 8, 2026. PISTON Secretary-General Steve Ranjo said his group is not against the modernization program but wants a better way to execute it.
  31. ↑ Official Bulletin: Reports of the Committee on Freedom of Association. 2010. p. 332. Retrieved April 8, 2026. Attempted murder of Joel Ascutia, President of the jeepney drivers' group Condor Piston-Bikol and National Deputy Secretary of PISTON, on 13 July 2009 during a nationwide transport strike.
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