Monday, May 12, 2008 Capitol, City Hall won't support transport strike
BELIEVING that transport strike nowadays is no longer an unusual thing in Bacolod and Negros, both the Capitol and City Hall will not support the two-day transport strike Monday and Tuesday.
Gov. Isidro Zayco and Mayor Evelio Leonardia said "even during the transport strike, it's still business as usual at Capitol and City Hall because we will field buses for our employees."
But Jessie Ortega, secretary-general of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc), a group that will spearhead the two-day transport strike, said he expected such kind of response.
In a phone interview, Ortega said: "Ever since, we are expecting that kind of reaction from our city and provincial officials because they could not really go with us because they're in the government."
But Ortega said they will go on with their strike on Monday and Tuesday and is expecting to cripple at least 85 to 90 percent of transportation in Negros and Bacolod.
Undoc's two main agenda in paralyzing Negros and Bacolod transport are to demand for the immediate scrapping of the value added tax (VAT) on crude oil and other fuel products as well as the oil deregulation law.
Ortega also clarified they won't demand for any fare hike despite the fact that the price of premium gasoline is now at an average of P50/liter, saying a fare hike would mean additional burden for the public.
Joining Undoc is the Federation of Bacolod Drivers Associations (Febacda), a group that also has about 2,000 members in the City.
Zayco said: "I already ordered Capitol drivers to haul our employees to and from their houses during the two-day strike, but only for those who are (residents of) Bacolod."
For those living outside Bacolod, it would depend on the situation, the governor said, adding that if there would be no public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying their respective streets, then they are excused from reporting to work.
Like Zayco, Leonardia said he also instructed the city's Department of Public Service (DPS) to dispatch vehicles to service City employees.
Both officials are also hopeful that the strike would be peaceful and no intimidation of drivers of private vehicles or other untoward incident would happen during the demonstration.(Erwin Ambo Delilan)
