Transport strike to have 'minimal impact' in 35 areas--gov't
By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:22:00 05/11/2008
MANILA, Philippines--Jeepney drivers and operators belonging to the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston, United Organization of Drivers and Operators Nationwide) vowed to stay off the streets of Metro Manila and some provincial cities on Monday, but transport officials predicted the strike would have minimal impact in the face of a refusal by other driver groups to join it.
The Philippine National Police placed its 15,000-strong force in the National Capital Region on full alert Sunday night, and said it would field its own trucks, buses and troop carriers in affected areas to ferry stranded commuters.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) claimed the strike would have limited impact, saying that Piston commanded only about 4 percent of the 450,000 or so public utility vehicles (PUV) nationwide.
Also, out of about 200,000 PUVs operating in Mega Manila—or Metro Manila and surrounding provinces—Piston may have only about 20,000 PUVs, LTFRB Chair Thompson Lantion said.
Officials said the three million or so commuters in Metro Manila could use the LRT and MRT elevated trains, which would have normal operations. About 800,000 people ride the elevated LRT and MRT trains daily.
Taxi and bus drivers are not taking part in the stoppage.
Piston said it was holding the strike not to push for a fare increase, for which it earlier filed a petition before the LTFRB, but to demand the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and the 12-percent expanded value-added tax on oil, as well as the implementation of oil price controls.
Their demands came amid a spiraling of oil prices in the world market. Oil rose to a new record of $126.25 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange before retreating slightly Friday, bringing its advance this week to nearly $10.
Global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs recently said it expected a "super spike" in the price of oil over the next six to 24 months that could push oil to $150 to $200 a barrel.
Piston's planned major strike points are in Alabang, Monumento (in front of Grand Central), Novaliches Bayan, Cubao, Marikina, Taytay Market, Kalayaan Avenue and Kamias, Mabuhay Rotunda, Philcoa in Quezon City, and Pier South at the Aduana Circle in Manila.
The group said there would also be strikes in selected routes in the provinces. These are in Baguio City, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Catanduanes, Davao City, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City and Butuan City.
Two-day strikes (May 12 and 13) are also planned in Negros Occidental, Panay, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Roxas City.
Piston secretary general George San Mateo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) that at least 70 percent of jeepney drivers and operators in Quezon City were expected to join the stoppage.
To ensure the strike's success, San Mateo said at least 50 members of his group would be deployed at rally posts in Cubao, Novaliches town proper, Kamias Commonwealth-Philcoa and Mabuhay Rotunda.
"It is not just our drivers' strike, it is a people's strike," he told the Inquirer, adding that several groups representing various sectors had committed to join.
Other drivers interviewed by the Inquirer said most of them would probably leave their routes temporarily to join the protest.
Johnny San Cristobal, 48, said the government should listen to the drivers' appeal to implement a long-term solution to the skyrocketing prices of oil.
But another driver, Felipe Balaba, who plies the Welcome-Project 2 and 3 route, said Piston and its allies should also respect the decision of some drivers, like him, who would not join the strike.
"Although we agree with what they are fighting for, we have families to feed. If I join the rally, my children will have to skip meals the next day," Balaba said.
Mar Estrada, secretary general of Tires-Piston in General Santos, said his group hoped to paralyze about 90 percent of the transport sector in that southern city.
Other militant groups which will reportedly join the strikes in the south were Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Gabriela and Anakpawis.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it was not too worried about Monday's strikes. Its general manager, Robert Nacianceno, said the agency would deploy more than 50 personnel carriers and buses to give free rides to stranded commuters.
In particular, the MMDA will monitor areas like Cubao, Balintawak and Commonwealth, and Alabang in Muntinlupa.
Nacianceno said the strike would not likely affect the Makati central business district since transport leaders there had indicated that they would not join.
Bemindo Jose, president of the United Transport Federation of Makati, told the Inquirer that his group had no intention of joining the strike.
Several big transport groups are not joining the stoppage. These include the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fedjodap), Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila & Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide Inc. (Pasang-Masda, Overall Council of Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide Inc.), the Mega Manila Operators and Drivers Alliance (MMODA), Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) and the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA).
A strike now would only bring more suffering to commuters already reeling from high prices, they said.
With reports from Tina G. Santos, DJ Yap, Marlon Ramos and Leila B. Salaverria in Manila; and Aquiles Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao
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