Transport strike fails to cripple most of Bicol

PROTEST A jeepney driver stops plying his route to man a protest area in Daraga town, Albay. —GEORGE GIO BRONDIAL

LEGAZPI CITY—The planned region-wide transport strike in Bicol on Monday failed to paralyze public transportation in the region’s six provinces when several transport groups did not join the protest.

But the impact of the strike, organized by Concerned Drivers and Operators-Piston (Condor-Piston) in Bicol, was felt in Albay province, where the group claimed success in paralyzing routes that stranded thousands of commuters.

Ramon Rescovilla, deputy secretary general of Condor-Piston Bicol, said the strike paralyzed “90 percent” of jeepney routes in Albay.

“They can feel the impact of the increase in prices of petroleum products,” he said.

As a preemptive measure, local officials in the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao, and the towns of Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Jovellar, Oas, Pio Duran and Libon issued suspended classes on Monday, the Albay provincial public safety emergency and management office said.

Only the towns of Rapu-Rapu, Manito, Tiwi, Malinao and Bacacay did not suspend classes.

FRUSTRATION Jeepney drivers in Albay province throw tomatoes on a caricature of President Duterte to express their frustration over the impact of rising oil prices, tax increases and vehicle modernization program on the public transport sector. —MICHAEL JAUCIAN

No transport strike was reported in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Masbate, the Office of Civil Defense said.

Free rides

Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara said the provincial government sent trucks to ferry stranded passengers from the first (Tiwi) and third (Polangui) congressional districts and the Daraga-Legazpi routes.

The Bicol police went on full alert and set up assistance centers to help stranded commuters and maintain order during the strike. The police and the Philippine Army also provided free rides.

Tricycle drivers in the cities of Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco continued plying their routes but passengers complained about the high fare.

Promises forgotten, broken

Rescovilla said that when Mr. Duterte was elected President, his promise to uplift the lives of Filipinos was immediately forgotten and broken.

“From the time Mr. Duterte assumed the presidency, we haven’t felt any positive change in our lives. This is contrary to what he promised—a good or better life for Filipinos,” he said.

“His promise was ‘tapang at malasakit’ (courage and concern). But all we see now is suffering … the concern is already gone,” Rescovilla added. —REPORTS FROM MAR ARGUELLES AND MICHAEL JAUCIAN