Transport groups vow to paralyze C Luzon on SONA day
By Tonette Orejas, Carmela Reyes
Central Luzon Desk
First Posted 21:47:00 07/27/2008
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines--Transport groups in Central Luzon, the home region of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, have vowed to paralyze major routes in the region on Monday as the President delivers her State of the Nation address (SONA).
The strike to be led in the region by the Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator sa Pilipinas (STOP, Association of Drivers and Transport Operators in the Philippines) aims to paralyze at least 95 percent of public transportation services in Central Luzon as a counterpoint to Arroyo's SONA.
"If the President is doing a SONA, we're doing a TONA (Tsuper at Operator Nation Address) to express the difficult state of the transport sector and the people as well," Rolando Catanghal, spokesperson of the STOP chapter in Central Luzon, said in a press briefing on Sunday.
He said the major transportation associations of jeepney and tricycle operators and drivers and several bus companies have agreed to mount the strikes from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday in Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.
"We are not demanding for an increase in fares. We are asking the government to find alternative solutions to the oil price increases because these affect not only us in the public transport sector but our fellow Filipinos also," he said.
The STOP wants the Arroyo administration to enforce a moratorium on oil price increases. It also wants Congress to remove the expanded value added tax on oil and scrap the oil deregulation law.
Catanghal said the government should regulate oil companies to cut their huge profits. The oil industry, he said, must be nationalized and sources of renewable energy should be seriously pursued.
"Government's giving of a P500-subsidy to drivers is benefiting only a few. If the VAT is removed, many people will benefit," he said.
The Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya in Central Luzon (Movement for National Democracy in Central Luzon) is supporting the strike of STOP with protest vigils and caravans, according to Aurora Broquil, KPD regional spokesperson.
"The people do not only deserve temporary relief but long-term protection measures. The Arroyo administration should use its mandate by, among other things, regulating oil companies," Broquil said.
Catanghal said oil prices tripled since Arroyo assumed office, leaving drivers with only P60 to P150 after 12 hours of plying their routes.
Catanghal asked the Philippine National Police to monitor the conduct of the strike to protect it from groups that would sow disorder or fear on Monday.
"We at STOP will conduct our protest in the most peaceful way possible. This will be an occasion of rosary and flowers," he said.
In Bulacan, Danilo Ignacio, president of the Bulacan Jeepney Transport Alliance Inc. (BJTAI), said they would stop plying their routes to dramatize their protest against the rising cost of fuel.
"We are fuming. We will join the strike because every time we wake up, the prices of gasoline are rising," he said.
In Baguio City, militant groups scheduled a series of activities for Monday to protest the oil and rice price increases.
A highlight of the protests is the "tanghalian ng mahihirap (lunch of the poor)" at the People's Park in downtown Baguio.
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