DRIVERS in Bacolod City are joining the nationwide transport strike on December 4 and 5.
Diego Malacad, secretary-general of United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc), said they are expecting 70 percent paralysis of public transportation in the city on Monday.
He said 90 to 95 percent of the drivers under their organization will join the rally.
Other local transport groups – Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Negros, and Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association – have yet to confirm if they are joining the two-day strike.
Malacad said if there’s a “joint effort” from all local transport groups, they are expecting 80 percent paralysis of transportation.
He said they are calling for a review of the modernization program of the government which seeks to phase out 15-year-old public utility jeepneys.
They are also calling for a review of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion is the first package of the comprehensive tax reform program, he said.
“We also want the oil price hike to stop,” he said. He also said they are against the proposed revolutionary government.
Cancel license, permits
Malacad assailed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for threatening the drivers and operators that their licenses and permits may be cancelled if they will join the transport strike next week.
Malacad said the LTFRB made this threat during the Drivers Academy training for about 300 drivers at the Bacolod Arts and Youth Sports Center Friday.
It was not the right forum because they were holding training for drivers, he said.
He added it caused some of their members to back down from the protest because they were afraid that their licenses and permits might get cancelled.
The people are free to hold an assembly to air out their sentiments and the LTFRB should have held a proper dialogue, Malacad said.