Monday, May 12, 2008 Mongaya: Drivers versus commuters By Anol Mongaya Panahom
FOR so long, organized PUJ and taxi drivers consider the strike as a weapon to get government to agree to demands like fare hikes and the rollback of the price of oil. During my activist days, I joined these protests together with other non-drivers during the several Welgang Bayans waged against the Marcos dictatorship. Back then, a drivers’ strike was crucial in paralyzing the normal course of activities in the city. The interest of the drivers and the commuters, most willingly walked home in sympathy to the cause, were one.
After the fall of Marcos, the drivers kept on wielding the strike as a weapon even for just the very sectoral demand for a fare hike. However, I think even they now realize that calling for a strike indiscriminately won’t work anymore because their form of protest doesn’t get the support of commuters anymore.
Come to think of it, the drivers want an increase in the fare because the price of fuel has increased uncontrollably. However, the commuters are also adversely affected by the general increase in prices while their income remains the same. If the drivers go on a strike, the commuters will be the ones directly affected.
Having come from the ranks of protesters, I feel sad when the public mood favors government intervention.
Perhaps, the leaders of drivers groups should rethink their positions and options. In a struggle that pits drivers against commuters, even former activists who also use public utility vehicles cry in protest.
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The success of Antonio Villar and the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) that he heads in curbing car smuggling as well as the strong peso should have stimulated more sales of legit vehicles and prod legitimate car dealers to import more vehicles.
Unfortunately for the dealers, the absence of the cheaper smuggled vehicles has not pushed demand especially with the sharp increase in gasoline prices. The dealers should also make their vehicles affordable.
Nevertheless, the PASG is mum on the identity of the six smugglers that Undersecretary Villar submitted to the congressional committee that is conducting an inquiry into car smuggling in Cebu. I understand that gathering enough evidence against smugglers is difficult.
The next best thing is making it difficult for them to operate. On this score, complaints of a prolonged lack of “trabaho” and “huwaw” at the ports could be interpreted as success in the drive against smugglers.
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Did Dr. Paulus Cańete indeed hire a gunman to kill Mayor Jonas Cortes? Or was he a victim of a frame-up? That should be something for investigators and the courts to determine.
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People have already made it a habit of exchanging text greetings for special occasions. On Mother’s Day however, it’s the missus who gets genuine greetings while the machos get all kinds of jokes. Well, it mom’s day guys.
(Check out my blog “In Between Columns” at anol.blogs. friendster.com/anols_blog/)
