Transport Strike Paralyzes Negros Occidental

Public transport in Negros Occidental almost grounded to a halt Monday last week as activist-drivers under the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc) and their allies in the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Negros held a 17-hour transport strike to dramatize their indignation over the seemingly unstoppable increases in oil prices.

By Karl G. Ombion 
Bulatlat.com

Public transport in Negros Occidental almost grounded to a halt Monday last week as activist-drivers under the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc) and their allies in the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Negros held a 17-hour transport strike to dramatize their indignation over the seemingly unstoppable increases in oil prices.

As the protest action wound up around 6 p.m., Undoc declared the untat biyahe a success, saying they were able to paralyze 95 percent of the city's public transportation and at least 85 percent across the province.

However, some jeepney drivers, particularly those plying the Tangub and Sum-ag routes, took advantage of the situation, picking up passengers in discreet areas and passing through alternative routes.

Still Undoc secretary-general Jessie Ortega said he was thankful for the "all-out support" given to them by their alliances, making the transport strike successful.

But Ortega came out strongly against Gustilo Lines, which owns and operates at least 40 public utility jeepneys, most of which ply the Shopping-Libertad route. "The owner is an opportunist," Ortega said.

Ortega said calls for a strike were answered positively by big buses and many other transport operators who also showed their disgust over the 45th increase in the prices of oil and oil prices by the Big Three:  Pilipinas Shell, Caltex Philippines and Petron Corporation.

But as the transport strike had its effect Monday, prompting some business establishments in the downtown area to close shop for the day, Bayan-Negros chairman Guillermo Barreta, Jr. warned that the issue over the oil price hike is not only an economic but a political issue against the administration.

"The continued oil price hikes is a proof that the regime's oil deregulation is a gross failure, as it answers only to the imperialists' whims than the demands of the people for the effective nationalization of oil industry. This would surely drag her down and contribute to her (President Macapagal-Arroyo) grave political isolation from the people in due time," Barreta said.

The Undoc and its other alliances set up four assembly points for their rally, namely at Lacson Street, Libertad Street, Magsaysay Avenue and Burgos Street. Later in the afternoon, the groups in these areas merged at the Bacolod City hall for a rally, attended by more than a 1000 people.

Ortega reiterated Undoc's stand for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, saying this was the cause of the unabated rise in the prices of oil and oil products.

He said Undoc would strongly oppose the Oil Deregulation Law and that they would intensify their efforts should Malacaņang fail to heed their cry.

On the other hand, Ortega denounced Porferio Clavel, regional director of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board for playing deaf to the increasing sale and transfer of "fake franchises".

Ortega was asking for the official listing of all franchise holder here in Negros.  This request was refused, though.

The distribution of alleged fake franchises, he said, is suspicious adding that there could be an anomaly in the LTFRB.

Ortega also said the "district code" being implemented by the LTFRB is "useless" because "it just ruins the vehicle's form."

The color coding, Ortega added, is not the problem, but the "fake franchise" issued by the LTFRB.

Earlier, Clavel said Negros would soon follow a district color-coding.  Jeepneys would sport colors as sky blue, white, green, chocolate brown, violet, and black according to their respective districts. Bulatlat.com

We want to know what you think of this article.