MANILA, Philippines: Two transport groups that had been at the center of protests against the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program (PUVMP) welcomed the government's decision to extend the deadline of consolidation to April 30.

In a Facebook post entirely in Filipino, transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) said their strike has paid off.

"Because of our untiring collective action and the determination to defend our rights and livelihoods, we have pushed the [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.] regime to extend the deadline to April 30," the transport group wrote.

Piston, however, said it will not stop calling on the government to scrap the PUVMP altogether.

"Let us continue to act until the business and foreigner-friendly PUVMP is scrapped and fight for progressive, patriotic, and inclusive public transportation," the transport group wrote.

Meanwhile, Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) welcomed the move and even said those who have consolidated were welcome to join them.

"This will not immediately scrap the sloppy, tortuous and foreign PUV modernization program, but it will serve as a springboard for us to make more noise in the campaign until it is completely scrapped," the group wrote in Filipino on Wednesday.

Marcos on Wednesday approved a deadline extension for the consolidation of PUVs, upon the recommendation of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista.

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