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Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Strike paralyzes 99% of public transport
By Ben O. Tesiorna and Jenny Molbog-Mendoza
* Strikers put up 11 persuasion points in city
* Transport groups vow more protest actions if government remains deaf to their demands
* City Government suspends work at 12 noon
THE transportation sector and all other cause-oriented groups joining Monday's nationwide transport strike claimed victory here in Davao City with almost 99 percent of public utility vehicles not running from three in the morning until press time.
The Transport of Southern Mindanao for Solidarity, Independence and Nationalism (Transmision)-Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) said other major cities and provinces also joined in the protest with many experiencing 95-99 percent paralysis as well.
In Mati, Davao Oriental, authorities, however, claimed only 30 percent of public transport was affected.
The transport sector protested the series of increases in the prices of oil and petroleum products, high prices of basic and prime commodities and the conscious disregard of the National Government for workers' legitimate demand for wage increase.
The protesters called for the repeal of the "downstream Oil Deregulation Law, stoppage of oil price increases, rollback of oil prices, nationalization of the oil industry and more importantly, the increase in wages for the private and public workers and employees".
As early as 3 a.m. Monday, members from the progressive groups put up "persuasion points" at Panacan Depot, Buhangin (Milan), Agdao Flyover, Magsaysay Park, Bajada (Davao Medical Center), Freedom Park, Anda Street, Bankerohan, Maa Crossing, Matina Crossing and Toril Poblacion.
"Major long routes like Toril, Buhangin and Sasa are 99 percent paralyzed, as public utility drivers did not ply their routes today," said Transmision-Piston chair Sammy Lasay.
Lasay accredited the success of the transport strike to the efforts of the progressive groups to educate and solicit support from motorists, consumer groups, establishments, public utility operators and drivers and the like.
"Once again, the people have proven that the transport strike remains one of the strong forms to address our strong opposition to the anti-poor economic and repressive political measures of the present administration," Lasay said.
The protesters challenged the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to give immediate attention to the surge of oil prices.
"Her government must immediately control the pump prices and stop gratifying the Big Three--Petron, Caltex and Shell that are giving much misery to the Filipinos," Lasay said.
"Instead of finding pleasure to the immediate passage of the 2 percent additional Value Added Tax and even the Anti-Terrorism Bill and National Identification System, President Arroyo must heed to the calls of the people especially to the demand for P125/P3000 across the board wage increase for public and private workers, which remains pending at the House of Representatives," he added.
Persuasion points
Rudy Aranjuez, national president of the Water System Employees Response (Water), said they have assigned some of their members to man the 11 persuasion points.
These persuasion points were located in Ulas, Matina, Toril, Ma-a, Agdao, Bankerohan, in front of Magsaysay Park, near Davao Medical Center (DMC), Freedom Park, Buhangin, and Panacan.
In Buhangin, where Aranjuez was assigned, around 40 members persuaded some drivers to support them.
Aranjuez said public utility jeepneys (PUJs) plying the routes of Jade Valley Homes and Tigatto, both in Buhangin, have suspended their trips.
This, he added, is a clear manifestation that more and more people have already realized that transport strike is timely and relevant so that the national government will hear the citizens' demands.
"In April alone, oil companies are planning to increase prices of petroleum products by P2 per liter and P4 per kilogram of Liquified Petroleum Gas. Based on their plans, they are going to implement the increase gradually, that is P0.50 weekly. In the Oil Deregulation Law, the increase in oil prices has no limitation anymore because the government has lost control over it. Despite these increases, wage rates have remained to be at the low level. That's why, we are including it in our list of demands," he said.
More protests
Meanwhile, Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Drivers and Operators Cooperative (Semdocc) president Maning Duran said based on gathered reports from the National Transport Workers Union (NTU), the level of traffic paralysis in Mati, Davao Oriental was estimated to be at 98 percent; 99 percent in Cagayan de Oro City; 95 percent in Zamboanga City; and also 95 percent in General Santos City, all reports were as of 7 a.m. Monday.
In Davao City, Semddocc said the transport strike paralyzed around 98 percent of the total traffic, as of 9:00 a.m. Monday.
"Pag-abot og 10 a.m. ani, i-expect nato nga mas mukunhod pa ang numero sa mga sakyanan nga nanagan. As of now, makita man pud nato nga mga nanagan dinhi lang sa circulatory routes. Nisabot man mi sa ila kay kahibalo gyud mi nga gutom ang drivers karon (By 10 a.m., we can expect that the number of PUJs running right now will dwindle. As of now, the only PUJs running are those plying the circulatory routes. We do understand them because we know for a fact that drivers are starving at present.)," he said.
They vowed to launch more protest actions if the government remains deaf to their demands.
Transmision-Piston together with some Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (Toda) and Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (Joda) Katawhan Kontra Kartel (KKK), Kadamay, Samakana, Namahmin-KMU, FADC-KMP, Kakkem-ACT, Courage, Anakbayan, Khadidja, Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis, Gabriela, Karapatan, and Bayan joined Monday's protest.
Work suspended
Davao City Administrator Wendel E. Avisado said Monday the transport strike tested the preparedness of the city as evidenced by the 80 percent presence of city employees at their respective workplace.
But work had to be suspended Monday noon considering that 99 percent of public transportation was paralyzed by the strike.
"Mayor (Rodrigo) Duterte has approved the suspension of work by Task Force Transport Strike at 12 noon," Avisado said.
Avisado said the local government deployed 30 buses, through the Southern Mindanao Bus Operators Association to fetch the employees from home to work and vice versa.
"The City Engineers Office and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office also provided dump trucks in case magkulang ang mga buses. The passengers also pay the fare," Avisado said.
Avisado said each of the bus was escorted with two policemen for the security. "The Task Force is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that no untoward incident would transpire," he said.
Avisado said the strikers also committed to execute a peacefull rally on the city streets just for one day. (with AAG)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (April 19, 2005 issue)
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