Transport strike fizzles out in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Militant groups here failed to paralyze public transport in the Bicol region as only a small number of public utility vehicles in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur took part in a one-day strike on Saturday, the Office of Civil Defense said.

The strike was not felt in Legazpi City at all and affected only about 30 percent of the transport systems in the Albay towns of Ligao, Daraga, Malinao, Bacacay, Pio Duran, Jovellar, Oas and Guinobatan, according to OCD regional director Bernardo Alejandro.

In Sorsogon, only a few jeepney drivers in Sorsogon City and the towns of Matnog and Gubat took part in the strike, he added.

In Camarines Sur, public transport was normal except in Naga City where only 20 percent of the jeepney drivers joined what was to have been a nationwide transport strike, Alejandro said.

No transport strike was reported in Camarines Norte and on the island provinces of Masbate and Catanduanes.

Senior Supt. Renato Bataller, spokesman of the Philippine National Police in Bicol, said that most jeepneys and tricycles continued to ply  their routes despite the call of the Concerned Drivers and Operators (Condor)-Piston in Bicol to join the strike in protest of the continuing rise in the prices of fuel and to press demands for a rollback in the prices gasoline and diesel fuel.

Buses service between Legazpi and Manila was normal, he added.

The PNP units in Bicol were on full alert and set up police assistance centers to help stranded commuters.

No untoward incidents were reported and the transport strike fizzled out by noon.