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Tuesday, March 02, 2004
GMA to DOTC: Cancel franchises of striking jeep operators
MANILA -- President Arroyo has ordered the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to take appropriate action against jeepney operators who joined the nationwide strike, including cancellation of franchises.
This developed as Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the situation has been under control despite the alleged 70 to 90 percent paralysis of public transportation in some areas of Metro Manila and in some provinces nationwide.
"I have to protect the interest of the average Filipino, especially the riding public. I have ordered the DOTC to cancel the franchises of jeepney operators who violate the law. We will deal with this issue with the rule of law," she said.
The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) and the Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organization-Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (PCDO-Acto) spearheaded a nationwide strike to press for their petition for a 1.50-peso fare increase, a rollback in oil prices, and the resignation of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Maria Elena Bautista.
Malacaņang also ruled out the suspension of classes and work due to the strike. But some private and public schools and companies opted to suspend classes or cut working hours because of the strike.
Arroyo added she would not allow "a minority to run roughshod on the welfare of the riding public."
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said drivers and operators who joined the strike clearly violated terms and conditions of the certificate of public conveyance issued to them, which include a penalty of suspension up to cancellation of franchise.
He said under the conditions, "applicants shall not resort to cessation of service as a sign or demonstration of protest against any government decision or action under pain of suspension or cancellation of the authority to operate granted by the board."
The applicant shall also "not tolerate, allow or authorize personnel to join others committing acts prejudicial to the riding public including but not limited to paralyzing transport services by intimidation, coercion or violence.
And under the laws also, the action that can be taken by the LTFRB can be summary in nature."
Arroyo said dialogs with major transport operators would continue as she assured public utility vehicle (PUVs) groups that their problems have not fallen on deaf ears.
The government said the discounted diesel would continue to be available for PUVs and it would soon be sold in selected in provincial gasoline stations for PUVs; while the suspension of tariff for imported spare parts would be in effect for six months.
But Bunye said the talks would be limited to "more responsible transportation groups" as the administration gave up on dealing with the rallyists, whom he described as "close-minded" people.
He also dismissed proposals for the implementation of a temporary P1 increase in minimum fare until after the LTFRB has decided on petitions for a fare increase.
He referred to Congress the call of the transportation sector for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law.
"Hearings are still scheduled on these particular positions and we will let these proceedings to go on, but for this minority who insist on these demands and at the same time use strong arms tactics to pressure government, this will not be condoned by the government," he said.
Arroyo reassured the public that alternative transportation, such as military trucks, buses and mass-transit trains, are available to assist commuters and ensure that passengers are not stranded.
Bunye said aside from fielding more vehicles, the color-coding scheme is suspended along with fees for the Light Rail Transit II from Santolan in Pasig City to Cubao in Quezon City.
Paralysis
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said only about 15,000 passengers or 10 percent of the commuting public has been affected by the transport strike.
But Piston leaders claimed their strike was a success since classes had been suspended and work hours had been cut short.
In some areas in Metro Manila, like Bulacan, 100 percent paralysis was reported.
The strike failed to totally paralyze transportation in Manila as most jeepney drivers are allied with Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap).
In some parts of the country, the transport strike took effect in varying level.
Commuters in Dagupan City were caught by surprise by the transport strike because there was no prior official statement from local transport groups that they were joining the nationwide protest action.
In Pangasinan, about 80 percent to 85 percent of the riding public was affected by the strike while in Dagupan, it was estimated at 60 percent.
In Camarines Sur, jeepney drivers were not just demanding for the fare rate increase, but also reduced the emission and drug testing charges.
Ninety percent of the transport system in Negros Occidental was reportedly paralyzed.
Organizers of the transport strike admitted they failed to paralyze traffic in Cebu City during their 16-hour transport strike, but claimed crippling routes from outside the city by 80 percent.
Nagkahiusang Driver sa Sugbo (Nadsu) blamed the giving of lunch packs and Philhealth cards to drivers, among the enticements by City Hall for drivers who did not participate in the strike, for the failure of their protest action.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo placed the paralysis at only 10 to 20 percent after the City Government fielded more than 100 vehicles to ferry stranded passengers.
The protesting drivers lifted the strike shortly after their dialog with Vice Mayor Michael Rama past 5 p.m. even if they failed to come up with a compromise agreement.
Monday morning, Mayor Tomas Osmeņa warned that he will see to it that the drivers who were on strike will not be able to drive again in the future.
In Iligan City, transport groups claimed a successful strike as only private vehicles were on city streets.
A noise barrage in Baguio City's gasoline stations were conducted instead of the transport strike.
The Tigil Pasada protest of the public utility jeep drivers and operators in Davao City paralyzed only 10 percent of the traffic and was not felt much by Dabawenyos.
Militant and transport groups however said Monday's protest is just their opening salvo and more are expected to come.
In San Fernando City, Pampanga, partial jeep strike paralyzes work in the city.
The Fejodap warned of a more massive transport strike if decision of the LTFRB on their petition for a P1 to P1.50 fare increase would be unfavorable. They earlier set a March 8 strike.
(March 2, 2004 issue)
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