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Monday, March 01, 2004
Cebu City Hall fights back v. strikers
CEBU -- To counter Monday's transport strike, the Cebu City Government will allow private vehicles to ply routes normally covered by public utility vehicles (PUVs) and let owners ask for fares from commuters.
And to protect PUV drivers who will not take part in the protest, policemen, tanods or soldiers will be asked to accompany each driver.
Also, those who want to earn but have no units to drive only have to proceed to the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council (CCDCC) in City Hall and they will be provided with vehicles.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo, CCDCC action officer, said that although three transport groups promised not to join the strike, they are also asking private vehicle owners to help.
"Owners of private vehicles who want to help transport passengers will be assigned routes. All they have to do is come to City Hall," he said.
For guidance, commuters and interested private vehicle owners can call the CCDCC office at 254-8558 and 254-8375.
Carillo can also be reached through 0917-5465286 and Supt. Melvin Gayutin of the Cebu City Police Office through 0919-4769063.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is on heightened alert in preparation for the nationwide transport strike Monday.
500 cops
Gayotin said the heightened alert was scheduled to take effect by midnight. As early as 4 a.m. Monday, uniformed policemen were sent to the different chokepoints.
At least 500 policemen will hit the streets to keep peace and order during Monday's strike.
All policemen were ordered not to take the day off Monday, to maximize the CCPO workforce.
On Sunday, leaders of the Alliance of Transport Organizations Member Intra-City (Atomic), Cebu City PUJ Operators and Drivers' Association (CCPODA) and Alyansa sa Nagkahiusang Drayber-Operator Alang sa Reporma (Andar) assured the City that their groups will ply their routes.
Atomic has at least 1,500 members, while CCPODA has 600 in its fold. Andar claims it has over 5,000 member-drivers and operators.
Carillo said the City Government needs at least 2,000 jeepneys to stay in the streets for the 67 routes within Cebu City.
Members of three transport groups and cooperatives who will stage the strike promised to start staying off the streets as early as 1 a.m. Monday.
Choose routes
That is why, Carillo said, Atomic, CCPODA and Andar drivers have the option to ply routes other than what was stated in their travel lines, for the duration of the strike.
"They can choose where they want to go," he said of the non-striking drivers.
At least 50 multicabs from RDAK Transport Equipment Inc. will be delivered to Cebu City Hall as early as 6 a.m. as reserve vehicles, in case units from the three transport groups cannot cope with the bulk of passengers.
The multicabs were rented by the City starting Monday up to June this year from RDAK, which won the bidding over former supplier Norkis.
And if more vehicles are still needed, Carillo said, 25 Kaohsiung buses, six-by-six trucks from the military's Central Command (Centcom), private buses and at least 60 barangay vehicles will also be deployed.
Three transport leaders were also deputized by the City to act as sector commanders. They will monitor the number of PUVs available for commuters.
Tony Campus will take charge of transportation from the south, Bebie Cerdiņa from the north and Rudy Laconza from within the city.
The three will coordinate with City Hall and those drivers and individuals willing to meet the need for transportation.
Bigger alliance
Carillo said they will closely monitor transportation from Bulacao, Guadalupe, Talamban and Oprra.
The City will also establish points in Mambaling, Mabolo and Guadalupe to come up with security measures for non-striking drivers and private vehicle owners.
Carillo said those from outside Cebu City will only have to coordinate with CCDCC since the office is also communicating with other local government units whose constituents are also affected by Monday's transport strike.
During the Feb. 10 strike, Cebu City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom) estimated at least 80 percent of PUVs that usually enter Cebu City stayed off the streets.
This time, Nagkahi-usang Drayber sa Sugbo (Nadsu), which spearheads the strike, expects to cripple transportation not only in Cebu City but also in the entire province, with the expected participation of bus and taxi operators.
Nadsu chairman Anthony Pogado earlier said they are not merely banking on their members, but on non-members as well, since what they are fighting for is the good of all drivers. RHM/With MBG
(March 1, 2004 issue)
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