Transport strike 'unsuccessful'

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

MANILA -- The work stoppage staged by militant transport groups Monday have managed to immobilize only a few areas around the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

The PNP said strikers failed to cripple public transport in Metro Manila, as only 515 protesters were seen in the capital as well as in the cities of Surigao and Butuan, both in Caraga region.

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Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Jaime Jacob said Monday's strike failed to cause inconvenience to the commuting public.

Authorities and militant groups in Davao and Cagayan de Oro cities gave conflicting figures as a result of Thursday's transport protests.

The Cagayan de Oro City police said 80 to 90 percent of the transportation system was affected, while transport group Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Region X said 100 percent paralysis was achieved.

However, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said only 40 percent of the transport system in Northern Mindanao, which includes Cagayan de Oro, was affected by the strike.

In Davao City, local transport groups said 92 percent joined the protest while City Mayor Sara Duterte said only 80 percent joined in the strike.

Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, in a report said, no transport paralysis have taken place in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol and Central Visayas.

Baguio City drivers also declined to join the strike as the local chapter of Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) has failed to convince its member in the "Summer Capital."

Public utility drivers in Cebu did not participate in the nationwide strike but a small group of protesters led by Piston tried to block the entry of more than 10 fuel trucks to a Petron oil depot in Mandaue City.

The protests, however, dispersed after policemen and security guards of the depot prevented them from blocking the trucks.

Oil deregulation

Piston took the lead of the mass action Monday, after it refused to call off the strike despite expressing their concerns over high oil prices in a meeting with President Benigno Aquino III last week.

The group eyed to paralyze public transport to underscore its call for a P9 rollback on fuel prices and the review the Oil Deregulation Law.

"We fielded four buses to augment [the available vehicles] but they were not used due to sufficient public utility vehicles," Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacañang Monday.

The government was "prepared to face the transport strike," Lacierda added. "That's why we have launched our contingency measures and it appears that the measures are taking effect. There are a very few stranded passengers in very limited areas."

The low turnout of protesters can be attributed to the dialogue President Aquino had with the transport leaders, Lacierda said.

"We are very certain that the transport groups' dialogue with the President was a contributory factor to what has not happened today (Monday)," he said.

Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) confirmed that the strike had minimal impact in the capital.

"The strike was unsuccessful in Metro Manila, having minimal impact on the lives of its citizens,” said MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino.

The MMDA chief, who was designated by Malacañang to act as the President’s personal representative to the inter-agency Presidential Task Force on Transport Strike and Mass Action (Trasma), said that "[n]one of the convergence points that Piston announced have developed into a critical mass" to able to have a major effect on public transport.

These convergence points were Aurora Boulevard in Cubao, the Alabang Viaduct, Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, Espana corner M. dela Fuente in Manila, Monumento in Caloocan and Guadalupe in Makati.

Tolentino credited the successful government response to the strike to the prompt coordination and timely response of various agencies.

No classes

Out of the 17 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, only Marikina cancelled classes.

In Davao City, many students had an extra day off as several private schools cancelled classes.

These schools are Brokenshire College, Holy Child Academy, Ateneo de Davao University, Assumption College of Davao, Philippine Women’s College of Davao, Rizal SPED, Davao Holy Trinity, Davao Central College of Toril, De La Salle John Bosco College and Leap of Faith Academy.

In Cagayan de Oro, the transport strike also caused the suspension of classes in elementary, high school and college levels, both private and public schools.

However, the Department of Education (Deped) did not officially order any cancellation of classes for public schools in the cities affected by the strike.

Protests

While some jeepney drivers opted not to join the one-day strike, the militants maintained their call for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, which to them, has been the main culprit behind high fuel prices.

Pump prices of diesel and gasoline have increased at least 20 times since January, bringing the total increase of P7.60 per liter for diesel and P5.10 per liter for regular gasoline, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

In Philcoa, Quezon City, the protesters converged by the roadside, bringing with them banners and placards chiding the Aquino administration for alleged inaction on the matter.

"The people's review aims to highlight the inherent flaws of deregulation as a policy. We will back up our analysis with hard facts. The results of the review will be submitted to Malacañang and to the Senate and House energy committees," Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said.

George San Mateo, Piston secretary-general said the group was satisfied with the turnout despite the withdrawal of several transport groups such as the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Fejodap), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (Acto) and Pasang Masda.

He also appealed for understanding from irate motorists and commuters who experienced traffic problems and less number of public utility vehicles (PUV) in the streets.

Earlier, Fejodap president Zenaida Maranan said the group call off their participation to the strike after President Aquino granted their appeals for the implementation of a single traffic ticketing system as well as a crackdown on mulcting or "kotong" cops.

For his part, Pasang Masda president Roberto "Obet" Martin said the group will just file a case before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the oil firms who he said were engaged in the “illegal” pricing of fuel products.

In Manila, traffic congestion has caused some tempers to flare up especially after members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) conducted a "planking protest" at the corner of M. De La Fuente Street corner Espana Boulevard.

The protest involves lying face down with stiffened arms and legs on a pavement that may sometimes involve two elevated platforms.

They were later dispersed by elements of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 4. The LFS members then proceeded to Welcome Rotonda where they staged a brief program. (Virgil Lopez/Jill Beltran/AH/Sun.Star Davao/ALR/MAWY/Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Aure Galacgac of Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)