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Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Iloilo transport sector divided on 2-day strike
By Jennifer M. Depakakibo
THE transport sector in Iloilo is divided on the two-day nationally coordinated strike on November 24 and 25 led by the Pinag-isang Samahan nga Mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston).
Piston will protest the taxation on oil and will call for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation.
While Jun Abellon, chairman of Piston-Panay, said in a press conference Monday quite a number of drivers' association in Iloilo City are joining the transport strike, another group of drivers and operators refused to support the protest action.
The Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers' Association (Icada) faction of president Rey Cachuela said they sympathize with their fellow drivers' cause but they believe the transport strike is not the solution.
On the other hand, the Icada wing of secretary-general Edgar Salarda is joining the two-day strike.
Abellon and Salarda's group counts in their company, among others, the City Loop Operators and Drivers Jeepney Association (Clodja), Compania Drivers Association (Coda), Jaro Liko Operators and Drivers Association (Jalijoda),
Mandurriao-Hibao-an, Mandurriao-Jaro, Parian Drivers Association (Parias), and the Villa Drivers Association (Vildras).
The two tricycle groups, Iloilo City Alliance of Tricycle Operators and Drivers (Icatoda) and the Metro Iloilo Motorized and Fedicab Operators and Drivers (Mimfoda), will also join the two-day strike.
Drivers of Jaro CPU, Sta. Barbara, Villa jeepneys belonging to Salarda's wing has also signified support.
They will also be joined by the Buenavista Sailors Association, Buenavista, Guimaras Tricycle Owners and Drivers Association, and the Aklan Bus Line.
Abellon said Cebu, Negros, and Bacolod City will also take part in the two-day transport strike.
In Kalibo, however, the protest action will last for three days until November 26.
"We're protesting the deregulation and taxation," Abellon said, explaining that with the additional taxes on oil, drivers will lose about P4,000 every month.
Business as usual
Cachuela said in a radio interview it would be business as usual for at least 13 drivers' association under his faction.
He said he met with 16 associations Monday and majority of them refused to take part.
"Although the cause is legitimate, the transport strike is not the solution. There are other forms of protest. We can hold a noise barrage or a rally," Cachuela said.
The president of the Federation of Iloilo Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Fijoda) also said in a radio interview trips of out-of-town or provincial vehicles will continue Wednesday and Thursday.
In a meeting, he said, 20 out of their 29 members signed a manifesto against taking part in the two-day transport strike.
The nine assured me, they would also sign, he added.
(November 23, 2004 issue)
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