ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Around 90 percent of this province’s transport groups will participate in the nationwide transport strike, according to Joebert Carandang, president of Hugpong Transport Capiz.
Carandang on Monday said they are not against the government’s jeepney modernization program but replacing the existing units of jeepneys into a Euro-4 mini bus which costs two million is not practical.
“Ang gina himo sang gobyerno sa mga makaluluoy nga mga jeepney operators kag drivers isa ka massacre,” Carandang told Panay News.
“Aside from public utility jeepneys, tricycle and public utility van operators and drivers will also participate in the transport strike,” he added.
Roxas City Integrated Transport Terminal manager Victor Arcenas echoed that public utility van operators will more likely participate in the strike.
“Nabatian nila from a source nga asta ang public utility van will be included sa modernization program by replacing it into a mini bus,” Arcenas said.
Carandang, meanwhile, said various transport leaders from the 1st and 2nd Districts of Capiz were committed to participate.
“We are just ventilating our sentiments toward the government because imposing this bogus modernization program, thousands of operators and drivers are being robbed of their livelihood,” he added.
“We apologize for the inconvenience this transport strike will cause to the riding public and that we ask for their understanding,” he said.
Roxas City mayor Ronnie Dadivas declared the suspension of classes in all levels but no suspension of office in the city government.
Provincial administrator Edwin Monares said the provincial government created a Kabalaka Transport Strike Task Force to monitor the activities and to assist stranded commuters.
The task force members were from the Philippine National Police, Provincial Engineers Office, General’s Services Office, and Provincial Legal Office.
“I-monitor natin ang sitwasyon baka may manggulo sa gustong mag-byahe,” Monares said.
“Meron tayong nakahandang mga sasakyan para i-assist ‘yung mga pasahero na ma-stranded,” he added./PN