Transport strike Monday next week

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BY RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Saturday, February 25, 2017
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ILOILO City – Many commuters are expected to find difficulty reaching their destinations on Monday next week when transport groups stage a strike to protest the planned phaseout of old public utility vehicles, among other issues.

“Ninety percent” of transport groups in Panay Island will join the nationwide strike, claimed Edgar Salarda, chairman of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) Panay.

Salarda, along with other transport group leaders and representatives, announced the Feb. 27 “untat-biyahe” in a news conference at the transport terminal in Barangay Tagbac, Jaro district yesterday.

Other participating groups include the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Iclajoda), Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Cipjoda), Hugpong Capiz, and the Federation of Aklan Integrated Public Transport, Inc. (Faipti) Aklan.

Piston-Negros and the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center in Negros Island Region are joining, too. (See related story on Negros, page 9)

Iclajoda president Raymundo Parcon told Panay News the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (Icada) and the Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Icajoda) will not join the transport strike.

Parcon and Salarda claimed some van, bus and taxi lines are also participating.

Salarda advised companies and schools to suspend work and classes on Monday.

Secretary-General Elmer Forro of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Panay, which is supporting the transport strike, said they are strongly against the proposal to phase out public utility vehicles 15 years and older.

Ang mabaskog nga protesta sa pagpamatok sa pag-phase out sang pampubliko nga salakyan indi lamang sa syudad sang Iloilo kundi sa bug-os nga [isla] sang Panay,” Forro stressed.

He said the protesting groups will also call against increases in oil prices and excise taxes.

Salarda warned that a 10-unit public utility jeepney fleet right now costs P7 million.

Cipjoda president Roju Paguntalan believes the phaseout will affect not only the operators and drivers but the commuters as well.

Parcon agrees. He said Iclajoda-member jeepneys plying these routes will have no trips on Monday: Baluarte, Calumpang, Jaro Liko, Ungka Itgsi, Ungka People’s Terminal, Pavia, Oton, Mohon Terminal, Mandurriao-City Proper, SM City Mandurriao, Jaro Liko-NFA, Molo Fundidor, Calumpang, and Villa Mohon Terminal.

Nagahingyo kami sang paghangop kag pag-ugyon sang pumoluyo kag sang bilog nga transportasyon sa bilog nga isla sang Panay,” said Iclajoda vice president Alrey Arevalo.

Also backing the strike are Wilfredo Castro of Central Lines Canova, Maria Rose Celeste of Calinog Bus Line and Secretary-General Jun Ignacio of the Faipti-Aklan. Castro said they will support the strike in “full force.”

Police officers, firefighters and City Health Office personnel will help maintain peace and order during Monday’s strike, Salarda said.

“There will be ‘response centers’ at the Tagbac terminal, Casa Plaza, flyover at UPV (University of the Philippines Visayas), and Jaro Evangelical Church kon sa diin matipon-tipon ang mga drivers, operators and everyone joining the transport strike,” he said./PN

 

 

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