|
Monday, May 12, 2008
Gov’t ready for transport strike
THE National Government, various local government units and the police force have prepared measures to ensure peace as militant and transport groups gear up for Monday’s nationwide transportation strike.
Deputy Presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said concerned government agencies would deploy buses and trucks to help passengers who would be stranded during the Pinag-Isang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) led transport strike on Monday.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Piston and other militant groups are protesting the spiraling fuel prices and the alleged inability of the government to regulate this. They demand for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and the 12 percent expanded value-added (VAT) on petroleum products as ways to control the surge of oil prices.
Over the weekend oil companies have implemented another round of price adjustments for all petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas by P1.
A week earlier, oil companies also implemented a P1 adjustment, bringing the series of adjustments to P6 in the last two months.
Golez said among those providing free rides to commuters includes the Armed Forces, the police, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local government units.
He added that while they respect the right of the drivers and operators to conduct a transport holiday, he reminded them of their duties to the passengers adding that there are other means to air their grievances which the government is prepared to hear and address.
He also urged them to respect the right of their fellow drivers who opt to continue plying instead of joining them.
Elsewhere in the country, local government units with their respective police offices have prepared measures to ensure easy transportation to the riding public.
In Davao City, Vice Mayor Sara Duterte ordered the fielding of buses to the different parts of the city to provide transportation to passengers, however, the service is not free as the riding public would have to pay the regular fare.
Police officers will be onboard the buses to be fielded by the City Government.
She also asked the city's labor force to report to their work, vowing the City Government is doing its part to maintain peace and order during the protest action.
In Cagayan de Oro City, militant transport groups are also joining the nationwide protest Monday though their demand is for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and the scrapping of the expanded value added tax (VAT) and not for a fare rate increase.
Police in Cagayan de Oro will be on the streets as early as 2 a.m. Monday morning as militant drivers vowed start the nationwide transport strike early.
The militant leaders said activists and striking drivers will converged as early as 4 a.m. Monday in their traditional chokepoints in Barangays Puerto, Bulua, Carmen, and Lapasan.
The same is true with Bacolod and other parts of Negros Occidental.
Jessie Ortega, secretary general of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc) said, they will also be holding a province-wide transport strike but theirs will not include fare hike as this "won't solve the situation."
Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia will be fielding buses city and capitol employees.
Undoc's two main agenda in paralyzing Negros and Bacolod transport are to demand for the immediate scrapping of the value added tax (VAT) on crude oil and other fuel products as well as the oil deregulation law.
Ortega also clarified they won't demand for any fare hike despite the fact that the price of premium gasoline is now at an average of P50/liter, saying a fare hike would mean additional burden for the public.
In Cebu City, most of Cebu’s transport groups plan to stay out of the jeepney strike their counterparts in Manila will stage on Monday, saying it will neither bring down fuel prices nor add to their income.
Ruben Rama, secretary general of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo (Nadsu), complained that some transport leaders lack sincerity in protecting the drivers’ interest.
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has also mapped out security measures to ensure that drivers who will not join the protest will be protected from harassment.
Police warned the strikers and their sympathizers not to intimidate or harm those who decide to ply their routes. Those caught using spikes to keep other drivers off the streets will be charged with malicious mischief, he warned. (JMR/Sun.Star Davao/Erwin Ambo S. Delilan of Sun.Star Bacolod/Sun.Star Cagayan/Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (May 12, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
