Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Transport strike: Folk stayed home By Carlo P. Mallo, Nelson C. Bagaforo, Malu Cadeliña Manar, and Dondon Dinoy
UNLIKE previous transport strikes that had the major thoroughfares of Davao City brimming with stranded passengers waiting to get on a public transport, the strike led by Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) Monday was quiet, with very few commuters moving around.
There were also mixed reports coming from other areas that there was a low 40 percent paralyzation in Davao del Sur and a relatively high in Kidapawan City with 85 percent.
It was observed Monday that in the southern part of the city, there were more jeepneys than passengers, though jeepneys that plied their routes were relatively less than that on an ordinary day. The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Davao City reported that there was at least 50 percent paralysis of the city's jeepneys.
People who did not have any important appointments stayed at home, while those whose work places are far from home opted to be absent.
"Hindi mo naman mararamdaman ang strike ngayon eh, ang dami pa rin sasakyan," Frank Riva who hails from Toril said.
The more wily employees know from experience that they will not have problems in going to and from their work.
"Ang strike wala naman sa umaga eh, kasi namamasada pa ang mga driver," Felix Irlandez of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said. As in past strikes, it has been the habit of jeepney drivers to do their rounds in the morning and park their vehicles for the day after earning enough for their families' food for the day.
Aubrey, another commuter who resides in Bankerohan, said there were a lot of jeepneys. She even commuted from her home to her office in Ecoland.
It was a day that even the heavens took part in with overcast skies and sporadic rain showers cooling off the flaring tempers of transport groups and members of progressive groups calling for the roll back of the surging prices of oil and the repeal of the oil deregulation law.
As of 10 a.m. Monay, Transport for Mindanao for Independence, Solidarity and Nationalism (Transmision-Piston) Southern Mindanao reported that over 95 percent of the entire transport sector has already been paralyzed, a claim the PNP disputed.
The PNP, based on its monitoring, reported that only 50 percent of the public utility jeepneys took part in the nationwide transport strike.
"The taxis and buses did not take part in the strike," Senior Superintendent Jaime Morente, Davao City Police Office chief, told Sun.Star Davao in an interview Monday.
True enough, while there was a considerable decrease in number of passenger jeepneys, taxis were all over the city.
Transmision again sent out an advisory as of 3 p.m. Monday, claiming 90-95 percent paralyzation.
Based on reports obtained by Sun.Star Davao as of noon Monday, no untoward incident has been reported and that the transport strike in the city was peaceful.
"Everything is normal," Morente said. He added that the City Government of Davao has provided at least 30 buses that will have two police marshals to provide transport for government employees and civilians who may be stranded during the rush hour.
Jeepney drivers and operators belonging to Transmision-Piston started the protest at around 1 a.m., roaming around the city to convince their colleagues to support the cause.
The traffic remained normal in the morning without a single commuter complaining about the lack of transportation.
It was only after launch, starting at around 1 p.m., when public utility vehicles gradually deserted the city streets.
Other than private-owned vehicles and some taxicabs traveling on the city's major thoroughfares, only a few public utility jeepneys and tricycles were plying their routes.
"Suporta mi sa strike pero nangita pa mi pampalit ug among makaon (We support the transport strike, but we have to look for money first to support our daily needs)," jeepney driver Remegio said.
"Lisod na dyud kaayo. Sa kamahal sa gasolina, halos wala na mi kita (Life is so hard now. The continuing increase in the prices of gasoline has already eaten our income)," he added.
Major oil firms on Saturday surprised consumers with another increase in the prices of petroleum products. It was the tenth time this year.
In Kidapawan City, at least 80 percent of public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying the city streets and to nearby towns in North Cotabato that were paralyzed when the transport sector and militant groups joined the nationwide strike.
About 2,000 tricycles ply the city streets and about 500 multi-cab and four wheel vehicles ply from the city to Makilala, M'lang, and President Roxas towns in North Cotabato.
Despite heavy downpour, tricycle, multi-cab, and L300 van drivers and operators marched in the streets to drumbeat their issues. The strike ended at 3:00 p.m.
Participants from the Federation of the Kidapawan Integrated Tricycle Association (Kita), the biggest group of drivers and operators here, was the biggest in number, according to Bebiano Gabo, spokesman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in North Cotabato.
"The Kita joined the protest because they understand that this protest action would benefit them," Gabo said.
Gabo, citing studies from a research-based non-government organization, said that if the transport sector all over the country would not buy any petroleum products even for just an hour, oil industries would lose about P700 million.
"This is why this protest action has sent a strong signal to big oil companies in the country," he said.
The Kita joined in the protest action despite the approval of an increase in tricycle fare last week.
Kita president Victorino Carbonell said the fare increase has not made an impact on their lives.
"When the fare rate was approved last week, the oil price has increased to almost two pesos. So, it does not made any sense at all," Carbonell said.
"What frustrated us so much is the fact that the fare increases happen only every three to four years, but oil price increases happen almost every week," he added.
The City Council (CC) of Kidapawan has approved the increase of at least 16 percent of the tricycle fare rate.
The petition, according to Carbonell, has been submitted in the CC in 2006, but was only discussed late last year and approved, through a passage of an ordinance, last April 2008. The collection of a new fare rate started last May 7 this year.
Support for the nationwide transport strike was weak in Davao del Sur even as the Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial office under Senior Supt. Cesario Darantinao has directed its mobile patrol vehicles to serve as conveyors of stranded passengers.
Darantinao has likewise raised the alert level in the province in anticipation of the possibility that the New People's Army (NPA) will try to cause further agitation among the protesters.
In Digos City, the militant groups who headed the transport strike gathered at Rizale Avenue to protest against the oil deregulation law and demand the national government to rollback oil prices.
From morning till noon Monday, only 40 of tricycle drivers showed their support for the nationwide strike by not doing their trips.
Tricycle driver Manuel Doring told Superbalita that he opted not to join the strike because he has seen the futility of the mass action.
He said that no matter how loud people will shout their demands, the Arroyo administration will not listen to the poor people.
He added that he even tried to earn more these days to be able to have enough for his family's food and still be able to pay the tricycle rent.
Major bus lines under the Southern Mindanao Bus Operators Association, which includes Weena, Metro Shuttle, and others servicing the Davao route, also did not suspend their daily schedules.
