Bicol Region map (Wikipedia maps)
LEGAZPI CITY – Militant groups claimed victory in their region-wide transport strike in Bicol on Monday, saying they paralyzed 90 to 95 percent of all transport routes in five of the region’s provinces.
Ramon Rescovilla, deputy secretary general of the Concerned Drivers and Operators (Condor-Piston) Bicol, said this has been their unique way of joining President Rodrigo Duterte in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“We would like to tell the President that there is no need to phase out the Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) but instead it should be rehabilitated,” he said.
He said Mr. Duterte seemed not to care if the public transport catering mainly to the poor and working class would disappear.
He reiterated that PUJ on the streets have been more reliable than the suggested battery-operated vehicle.
“The transport strike we have conducted paralyzed the trips for about 92 percent in the whole Bicol region,” Rescovilla stressed.
Rescovilla, in a phone interview, said that the transport strike paralyzed 95 percent of routes in Albay, 90 percent in Camarines Sur, and 100 percent in Camarines Norte.
In an update to media, Bayan Bicol said 65 percent of the transport routes were paralyzed in Masbate and 95 percent in Sorsogon. Catanduanes did not participate in the strike.
Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police trucks were dispatched to the streets to render free rides to the public affected by the tranportation strike on Monday. SFM/rga