7 Mindanao cities stalled by strike--Piston
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 13:20:00 05/12/2008
DAVAO CITY, Philippines--The strike led by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston, United Organization of Drivers and Operators Nationwide) paralyzed 70 to 95 percent of public transport in at least seven cities of Mindanao, drivers’ groups claimed on Monday.
In Davao City, Edel Gonzaga, spokesperson of Piston in Southern Mindanao, said 95 percent of public utility vehicles did not ply their routes as early as Sunday midnight.
But Senior Supt. Jaime Morente, city police chief, said only 50 percent of public transport in the city was paralyzed.
Morente said taxis and buses continued to ply their routes.
In the cities of Tagum and Panabo in Davao del Norte, the militant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasants’ Movement in the Philippines) said 90 percent of public transport drivers and operators joined the strike and did not ply their routes.
In Cagayan de Oro City, police reported an 85-percent paralysis in public transportation. Militant groups, however, said it was 95 percent.
Butuan City had 95-percent paralysis, according to Willie Cubillas, president of the Butuan Transport Federation.
At least 70 percent of public transport joined the strike in Iligan City.
Ninety percent of public transport in General Santos City also took part in the strike, Piston said. But the situation in other parts of Central Mindanao was normal as the United Transport Coalition of Drivers and Operators in that region chose to wait for the decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on its petition for a fare hike.
"We will have to wait for the LTFRB decision. If our petition for a fare increase is turned down, then we will have to stage our street protest," Basrudin Ali, the coalition's vice chairman for Mindanao, said.
The group in Mindanao is asking LTFRB to increase by P1.50 its minimum fare to P7.50.
The LTFRB central office is set to hear Mindanao's fare hike proposal on Thursday.
Reports from Jeffrey Tupas, Ma. Cecilia Rodriguez, Franklin Caliguid, Edwin O. Fernandez, Charlie C. Señase, Frinston Lim, Aquiles Z. Zonio, Richel Umel, Inquirer Mindanao
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