Franchise board warns operators vs joining transport strike

Saturday, March 26, 2011

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Northern Mindanao warned public transport operators from joining the nationwide strike on March 31.

Alan Guro, LTFRB assistant regional director, said operators may face suspension, or even cancellation of their franchises, if they join the strike.

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Guro said pursuant to Executive Order No. 202, public utility vehicle operators are given the privilege to operate for transportation franchises.

However, he said under the terms and conditions as operators, joining transport strikes is not included.

“This would result to the cancellation of authority for those operators who join the strike,” Guro said.

However, he clarified that no transport groups in the region have signified their intention to hold or participate in the March 31 strike.

“They are not allowed to participate. Otherwise, we will summon them (operators) and require them to issue a ‘show cause’ why they participated in the transport strike,” he said.

Guro said violators of the franchise’s terms and conditions will be given due process before the franchise board and be heard of their reasons on participating at strikes.

“Others claim they were prompted to join the strike because they cannot get rid of transport sabotage at the streets. Some drivers were even beaten if they refused to join. So, we will hear their side. We will follow due process,” he said.

Under EO 202, the minimal penalty for operators is suspension of authority to operate up to the cancellation of franchise, depending on the weight of the violation.

On March 31, a nationwide transport strike has been set.

Sonny Hinosolango, secretary general of the Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Region X (STAREX), said leaders of various motorela associations and other transport groups already committed to join the nationwide protest.

Hinosolango said they aim to paralyze 100 percent of the region’s transport operation with the full cooperation of militant organizations and civil society groups.

He said they will demand for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, a one-time rollback and a stop in the overpricing of petroleum products, among others.

However, Guro said if transport organizations want roll back in prices of fuel, they should picket in front of the offices of the Department of Energy, and not anywhere else.