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Thursday, February 12, 2004
Wenceslao: When only few people care
By Bong Wenceslao
Tuesday’s transport strike was the second to hit Cebu this year—and by another group, the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu (Nadsu). I actually thought the activity would be a flop, what with the lukewarm response of the other factions within the transport sector. But it ended up paralyzing some 80 percent of Metro Cebu’s transportation.
It is difficult to ascertain the number of drivers and operators that voluntarily joined the strike or were forced to do so. Still, in protest actions, the core is always smaller. The rest can be divided into those sympathetic with Nadsu’s cause or those afraid to defy the protesters gathered in so-called “choke points” in the city.
Anyway, the more important point is not so much the degree of paralysis as the success of Nadsu in advancing their demands. By success, I mean not only the said group getting the needed response from concerned government agencies but also it’s being able to raise the level of awareness of the public regarding its cause.
As it is, the only demand that caught public attention was the increase in minimum fare by P1.50, which is higher than the P1 sought by other transport groups. This one is very ticklish considering that it will hit the riding public more than the other sectors in the community. Meaning, it will surely meet stiff opposition.
I would have liked Nadsu to concentrate on the more substantial issues like the recent series of increases in the prices of oil products and the anti-transport sector policies of government. In the haste of holding the strike, Nadsu failed to expand the discussion on these matters and thus missed placing their fare rates hike demand in perspective.
Indeed, I find it a bit odd that people have not been vocal against the rise in the prices of petroleum products pegged by the so-called oil cartel (funny, but even the so-called new players in the oil industry have formed their own cartel). During the Marcos years, an increase of a few centavos in gasoline prices already generates massive protests.
Maybe, the Oil Deregulation Law has succeeded in fooling the people into believing that every increase decided by petroleum dealers is reasonable. Or maybe this is just a result of the widespread indifference blanketing the people. Or is this because we have all been desensitized by the helplessness that many are feeling?
In this sense, I long for those days when protest actions generated support because people understood the need to do so and were confident their unity could effect changes in government policies. Nowadays, because only few people care and dare, oppressors and exploiters have become more aggressive in doing their thing.
P.S. Here’s a question prompted by a message sent by a texter: Is it true that the mother of the illegitimate son of presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. is married to the brother of the husband of Sen. Loren Legarda?
From Sam Bitudio: “Father to daughter: Child, you must study well and work hard to be successful in this life. Daughter: No need, Dad. I’m a natural-born Filipino, thus I can be president. If not, I’ll work with Uncle Joe at the Bureau of Customs or with Aunt Mary at the BIR. If it doesn’t work, I’ll just be a political prostitute.”
On the alleged shenanigans at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), an unidentified texter added this: “We sent our truck to LTO’s Motor Vehicle Inspection System. My representative gave P200 to the inspector. Result: failed. My representative went back and gave another P200. Result: passed.”
Finally, I would remind Text Reax contributors that messages with complete names and addresses will be given priority.
(e-mail: khanwens@yahoo.com; text: 0927-4912362)
(February 12, 2004 issue)
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