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Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Strike paralyzes Manila, other urban areas
MANILA -- Public transportation in Metro Manila and other urban areas was nearly paralyzed in Monday's nationwide strike staged by various transport groups pressing a host of demands.
Thousands of commuters were stranded on the country's streets, after public drivers went on a "holiday" and did not ply their routes to demand a rollback in oil prices, repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and a 125 across-the-board salary increase for workers.
Government announced it is open to allowing an increase in transport fares to help drivers cope with the nearly weekly increases in fuel prices, viewed as a move aimed at appeasing the strikers.
As to the salary increases, the labor department said it is a matter best left to regional tripartite wage boards.
Striking transport groups claimed they were able to paralyze 90 percent of public transportation in Metro Manila.
The affected routes in Manila included Cubao, Novaliches, Commonwealth, Fairview, Balara and Project 2 and 3 in Quezon City; Alabang in Muntinlupa; Pier, Paco, Sta. Cruz, Divisoria and Quiapo in Manila; Ortigas and Rosario in Pasig City; Baclaran in Paranaque City; FTI route in Taguig City; the entire cities of Pasay, Malabon, Caloocan and Makati; and towns of Navotas and San Juan.
The strike also affected public transportation in the provinces, particularly in the towns of Imus and Carmona in Cavite; Binan, Pacita, San Pedro in Laguna; Taytay and Angono in Rizal province; Metro Baguio; and the entire provinces of Pangasinan; Zambales; Bataan; Bulacan; Aurora; Pampanga; Tarlac; Batangas; Quezon; Albay; Camarines Sur; Camarines Norte; Sorsogon; Cebu; Negros Occidental; Cagayan de Oro; Davao provinces; Socsargen; Compostela Valley and North Cotobato.
Mar Garvida, president of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston), said the success of the strike is "proof of the people's strong clamor for an end to the incessant price increases of oil and petroleum products, and consequently, the prices of basic commodities."
"The strike's success signals that our grievances are legitimate and logical," he said.
Ferdie Lagman, action force chief of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), said the strike failed to adversely affect public transport in Metro Manila and key urban cities in various provinces.
He said only 10 to 15 percent of public transportation was affected by the strike.
The DOTC deployed several military trucks and buses to ferry affected commuters. The commuters were able to report to work and returned home safely, he said.
Two thousand policemen were deployed to the streets of Metro Manila to monitor the protest and provide security.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Avelino Razon Jr. said they recognize the right of the transport sector to express their gripes and demands but the exercise should be within the bounds of law.
Garvida said they would continue with their strike as long as the Arroyo government fails to stop the increase in oil prices. "We apologize to the commuters for the inconvenience brought by the strike, but we have to do this for our own good," he said.
The Piston president also condemned the arrest of some of their colleagues by policemen for still unknown offenses. He said they conducted their rally peacefully and they did not coerce any driver to join the strike.
He believes the arrest of Piston-National Capital Region president Rafael Gonzales and his colleagues was harassment, an attempt by the police to intimidate them from rallying.
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Joel G. Virador said they support the nationwide transport strike and backed calls for the immediate repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and a rollback in oil prices.
"Wages remain pegged at all-time low levels yet oil price increases have become an almost weekly fare for profit-hungry oil firms. We cannot just sit back and allow this," Virador said.
Virador opposed a further increase in transport fares as he said such a move is blatantly unfair and excessive to commuters who are mostly ordinary workers denied of wage adjustment.
Malacañang is considering an increase in transport fares.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita asked transport groups to be more open-minded and patient, adding that government is doing its best to address their problems.
"Katulad nang paghingi nila ng transport fare hike, iyan naman ay sa lalong madaling panahon ay mapagbibigyan din (Like their demand for a transport hike, we will give it in the soonest time possible)," Ermita said in a radio interview.
An additional P3 on the current minimum fare of P5.50 is being sought by some transportation groups following the increases in prices of oil and spare parts.
Ermita added the transport sector's other demands--a more relaxed implementation of non-moving traffic laws and the continued grant of discount for public utility vehicles--had already been provided.
He asked the sector, in return, to consider the welfare of the riding public and avoid forcing other drivers and operators who opted to continue plying their routes to join their protests.
Ermita said military trucks had been deployed to major routes to ferry stranded commuters.
The Department of Energy (DOE), for its part, asked big oil companies in the country to explain the computation used in determining the prices of the products they sell to the public.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who is also President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's spokesman, said government just wants to ensure the prices are fair and the increase is justified.
"Possible na magkaiba ang ating (It is possible that we have different) assumptions, so we have to check the validity of the assumptions of the oil companies," he added.
Bunye said the impact of the "transport holiday" varies depending on the places where it is held. He said there are areas where transportation operations are almost completely paralyzed while there are areas where the drivers and operators opted to continue their operations.
In Metro Manila for instance, Bunye said "many sectors did not join."
Asked if he agrees with the statement of Ermita that a petition for fare hike would finally be given, Bunye said it will be up to the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which is hearing the petitions.
Bunye said while the government appreciates the concerns being raised by the transport groups like the spate of oil price increases, these are being acted on.
"Launching a transport stoppage has never been a wise and reasonable action in addressing a problem that involves all our people, especially those who have to commute to work. What we need is a proper and intelligent way of addressing the problem to come up with lasting solutions, including energy conservation and seeking alternative sources of energy," he added.
Concerning the salary increase, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said this is best decided by the regional tripartite wages and productivity boards (RTWPBs) and not by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).
"The law has not changed. (Wage increases) are determined in the boards because the cost of living vary across regions," Sto. Tomas said,
Sto. Tomas said the wage body in Western Visayas is hearing a petition for a P100 daily across-the board wage increase for workers in that region.
She said there are other factors or "supervening events" that need to be considered first before wage boards can decide or grant a petition for a salary hike and the continuing increase in the prices of petroleum products is one of those factors.
"The wage board can motu propio on its own convene if they think it's a supervening event," she said.
But the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) said giving a salary increase this time is not feasible since many companies are no longer liquid and giving in to the workers' demand for a salary adjustment would result in closure of many companies.
"The general sentiment of employers is that it is not timely," said Ecop chairman Miguel Varela.
Varela asked the government to be very careful in coming out with solutions to address the workers' demand for a salary adjustment as any solution may have a negative effect on the companies, if not properly studied. (JFF/JMR/MSN)
(April 19, 2005 issue)
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