ILOILO City – Operations of different transport groups in Panay Island, particularly in the city and province of Iloilo, are going on as usual this Monday despite the nationwide transport strike.
Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI) president Rizalito Alido said none of his members are joining the protest organized by transport group Manibela.
“Business as usual. All modernized jeepneys, including all our members in cooperatives and corporations, committed to not joining,” Alido said in a Panay News interview.
He said transport cooperative members were informed that joining the transport strike could be grounds for a cancellation of franchise, and added they could be issued with show-cause orders by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Alido emphasized that their responsibilities are to ensure commuters will reach their destinations and be one with the national government’s modernization program.
He assured the public that there are enough modernized units and traditional jeepneys to cater to passengers during this Monday rush.
The members of WVATCCI are as follows:
* Molo Transport Service Cooperative
* Santa Barbara – New Lucena Transport Service Cooperative
* Aerostar Transport Cooperative
* Iloilo Superman Owners and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* Iloilo City Alliance Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* JJL Transport Corporation
* Pavia Iloilo Jeepney Owners and Drivers Transport Cooperative
* Joroshley Transport Services Incorporated
* Western Visayas Transport Cooperative
* Leon Transport Service Cooperative
* Calumpang Iloilo Service Transport Cooperative.
Last week, Raymundo Parcon, president of Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC), also announced their decision to also opt out of the transport strike.
“We are not participating in the proposed transport strike because we are registered with the CDA (Cooperative Development Authority) and the offices of such cooperatives. Strikes or protests of this nature are not permissible for us,” Parcon told Panay News.
In Metro Manila, several local government units (LGUs) and universities have announced suspensions of face-to-face classes and a shift to distance learning due to the impending transport strike today.
Transport group Manibela stated on Oct. 9 that they would be holding a nationwide strike to protest the alleged corruption within the transportation sector and call for the deferment and review of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said about 240,000 traditional jeepneys are expected to join the strike.
‘No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay’ holds rally
Warren Gangosa, president of “No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay” and president of the Villa Transport Association, confirmed to Panay News that individual operators and drivers of traditional jeepneys will hold a protest this morning in front of the LTFRB-6 office in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro district.
Regarding their concerns, Gangosa said, “We want LTFRB-6 director Richard Osmeña and LTFRB-6 legal counsel Atty. Salvador Altura to be removed from their posts.”
Furthermore, the group opposes the enhanced Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) of Iloilo City that supports the modernization program.
They question the enhanced LPTRP implementation despite there being no specific law or order for its enactment, relying solely on memorandum circulars./PN
