Two-day strike in Bicol fails to cripple transport

STRIKE OUT Jeepney drivers and operators mount a two-day strike in Albay province beginning on Monday but this fizzled out, according to officials. —MARKALVIC ESPLANA

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines — Transport groups have mounted a two-day strike throughout the Bicol region in protest of the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, forcing the suspension of classes in a city and six towns.

The strike failed to cripple public transport on its first day, Monday, since tricycles and taxis were available to commuters, provincial officials said.

Concerned Drivers and Operators (Condor)-Piston Bicol, No To Jeepney Phase Out Coalition Bicol and Bicol Transport Alliance called the strike to protest the PUV modernization program’s detrimental effect on drivers and commuters.

Condor-Piston warned that the program would result in “job losses” of PUV drivers and small operators.

“Even commuters will be affected by the plan of the Duterte administration,” it said in a statement.

The strike prompted the suspension of classes in Legazpi City and in Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Oas, Sto. Domingo and Bacacay towns.

The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) said the class suspension cushioned the impact of the strike.

Local government units deployed trucks to provide free rides to commuters, according to Cedric Daep, the Apsemo chief.

Daep said the strike failed to cripple transport because tricycles and taxis were also available to the public.

The program, launched in 2017, requires vehicles 15 years old or older to comply with Euro 4 standards on emission. Transport groups have claimed that this would harm the livelihood of small operators and drivers.