No classes in Iloilo City on Monday due to transport strike

ILOILO CITY – Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog on Sunday afternoon declared a suspension of classes at all levels here on Monday due to a planned strike by transport groups.

Covered by the declaration are all public and private schools in the city.

Transport groups with members plying routes within the city and between the city and towns in the province have announced the strike to protest the proposed scrapping of public utility vehicles 15 years old and older.

The strike will also be joined by transport groups in Capiz, Aklan, Negros Occidental and Cebu.

Iloilo City Administrator Hernando Galvez said the city government would ferry stranded passengers using government vehicles.

“We will use all our available vehicles to help those from our perimeter boundary terminals and other areas in the city in going to the center of the city,” Galvez said.

Government vehicles will be on standby at the Christ the King in Ungka 1 and Tagbak Terminal in Tagbak all in Jaro; Mohon terminal in Arevalo; Ticud/Baldoza in La Paz and Barrio Obrero in La Paz districts.

“The city will also have its command center here at the Iloilo City Hall Penthouse to monitor the exercise of the rights of our transport sector,” Galvez said.

Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said Gov. Arthur Defensor instructed him to coordinate with various offices and the League of the Municipalities President Jett Rojas to synchronize all preparations.

The governor also ordered the provincial engineer’s office to place on standby their vehicles for deployment./rga