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Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Franchise of striking drivers to be suspended
* Drivers and operators who joined the strike clearly violated terms and conditions of the certificate of public conveyance issued to them, which include a penalty of suspension up to cancellation of franchise, says Malacañang
PRESIDENT Arroyo ordered the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to take appropriate action, including cancelling their franchises, against jeepney operators who joined the nationwide strike Monday.
The transport groups particularly in Manila and Bulacan, including the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) in Negros Occidental, staged the protest rally to dramatize their demand for a P1.50 fare hike.
They also reiterated their call for the abolition of the Oil Deregulation Law.
In the province, the scheduled two-day transport strike dubbed Untat Biyahe, will not push through with its second day as Undic announced Monday night that they will resume their normal operations.
Earlier Monday, Undoc said at least 90 percent of public transportation was crippled.
Another protest
Jessie Ortega, secretary general, threatened that another transport strike coupled by massive protest action is looming should the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board fails to address their demands.
In Manila, the cancellation of franchises among those who joined Monday's transportation rally developed as Transportation Sec. Leandro Mendoza said the situation has been under control despite the alleged 70 percent to 90 percent paralysis of public transportation in some areas of Metro Manila and in some provinces nationwide.
Malacañang also ruled out the suspending classes and work due to the strike.
Some private and public schools and companies though opted to suspend classes or cut working hours because of the strike.
In Negros Occidental, classes were suspended but with the resumption of transportation Tuesday, classes are expected to also resume.
On the cancellation of the transport groups' franchises, President Arroyo said: "I have to protect the interest of the average Filipino, especially the riding public. I have ordered the DOTC to cancel the franchises of jeepney operators who violate the law. We will deal with this issue with the rule of law."
She added that she would not allow "a minority to run roughshod on the welfare of the riding public."
Violations
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said drivers and operators who joined the strike clearly violated terms and conditions of the certificate of public conveyance issued to them, which include a penalty of suspension up to cancellation of franchise.
He said under the conditions, "applicants shall not resort to cessation of service as a sign or demonstration of protest against any government decision or action under pain of suspension or cancellation of the authority to operate granted by the board."
The applicant shall also "not tolerate, allow or authorize personnel to join others committing acts prejudicial to the riding public including but not limited to paralyzing transport services by intimidation, coercion or violence. And under the laws also, the action that can be taken by the LTFRB (Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board) can be summary in nature."
Arroyo said dialogs with major transport operators would continue as she assured public utility vehicle (PUVs) groups that their problems have not fallen on deaf ears.
The government said the discounted diesel would continue to be available for PUVs and it would even be sold in selected in provincial gasoline stations for PUVs soon while the suspension of tariff for imported spare parts would be in effect for six months.
The Caltex group of companies announced it will roll back the prices of its LPG by P1.50 per kilogram.
But Bunye said the talks would be limited to "more responsible transportation groups" as the administration gave up on dealing with the rallyists, whom he described as "close-minded" people.
He also dismissed proposals for the implementation of a temporary P1 increase in minimum fare until after the LTFRB has decided on petitions for a fare increase while he referred to Congress the call of the transportation sector for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law.
"Hearings are still scheduled on these particular positions and we will let these proceedings to go on, but for this minority who insist on these demands and at the same time use strong arms tactics to pressure government, this will not be condoned by the government," he said.
Unfazed
LTFRB Regional Director Porfirio Clavel Jr., on the other hand, told Sun.Star the region is still waiting for the memorandum of LTFRB National regarding the suspension of the drivers' franchises.
Clavel said he cannot answer in behalf of the LTFRB chairman. He, however, reminded the operators that they "have an obligation to render service to the riding public."
Arroyo reassured the public that alternative transportation such as military trucks, buses and mass-transit trains are available in all routes to assist commuters and ensure that passengers are not stranded.
Bunye said aside from fielding more vehicles, the color-coding scheme is suspended along with fees for the Light Rail Transit II from Santolan in Pasig City to Cubao in Quezon City.
Monday's strike was spearheaded by the Pinag-isang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and the Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organization-Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (PCDO-Acto).
The Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) did not join the strike, opting to wait for the decision of the LTFRB on their petition for a P1 to P1.50 fare increase before they would decide whether to push through with March 8 strike.
A blessing
Trisikad drivers in the city, however, considered the transport strike as "blessings" for them.
Arnel, a 15-year-old pedicab driver said that in normal days, he earns only about P100 to P150 daily.
But on Monday, he said he earned about P400, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"I want Bacolod to always have a transport strike so we can have a good income," Arnel quipped in Hiligaynon.
With the suspension of trips some passenger jeepneys in the city, the pedicabs and motorcyles became hot transport commodities in the city Monday. (Sunnex/With EASD, CMAP)
(March 2, 2004 issue)
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