Cebu transpo groups to stage pickets on Monday

WHILE there won’t be a transport strike, Cebu’s transport groups will hold pickets in Metro Cebu cities in solidarity with fellow drivers and operators nationwide this coming Monday.

Edward Geolin, spokesman of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu (Nadsu-Piston), said their pickets will convey their sentiments against the series of fuel price increases that affected their operations despite the government’s Pantawid Pasada program.

“At most 2,000 of our 7,000 members availed of the program because we didn’t support it in the first place,” Geolin said.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office said personnel will be deployed in Metro Cebu to help maintain peace and order during the pickets.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., Cebu provincial police chief, said they have prepared their own contingency plans to deal with both passengers and drivers and operators joining the pickets.

In Cebu City Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Cebu City police chief, said Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) teams are on standby to deal with any eventuality. He called on organizers to police their ranks.

“We expect a peaceful rally,” Buenafe said. Militant groups also said they will join Monday’s pickets, especially those hold on oil depots. Correspondents Chito Aragon and Gabriel C. Bonjoc