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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA and RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Monday, February 27, 2017
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ILOILO City – The strike of passenger jeepneys today has forced the city government to suspended classes in public and private schools in all levels.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog cited “general welfare and public interest” in ordering the class suspension.
Before announcing his decision yesterday, Mabilog conferred with Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, City Administrator Hernando Galvez and Iloilo City Schools Division’s Superintendent Claire Zamora.
The strike is a protest against the government’s plan to phase out jeepneys 15 years old and older. If the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) were to be believed, “90 percent” of transport groups in Panay Island will join the nationwide strike.
The city government learned from Provincial Administrator Raul Banias of Iloilo that public transport groups in 15 towns signified to join today’s transport holiday. This is expected to hamper the travel of students from the municipalities to their schools in Iloilo City.
The Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (Icada) and Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Icajoda), however, are not joining the transport strike.
Mabilog also stressed yesterday that work at city hall will continue.
Both the city and provincial governments have contingency plans.
The Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) will have its vehicles on standby at the capitol grounds for deployment to calls for assistance.
The General Services Office (GSO), meanwhile, directed capitol offices to make all service vehicles available for deployment to calls for assistance – and even to transport stranded employees and commuters.
An assistance desk will be set up at the capitol lobby to be manned by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, GSO and PEO.
Through League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Iloilo president Mayor Jett Rojas of Ajuy, the capitol reminded local government units to also be ready with their contingency plans.
Participating transport groups in today’s strike 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.
Iclajoda president Raymundo Parcon told Panay News some van, bus and taxi lines are also participating.
The Iloilo City government will offer free rides to the stranded commuters.
Vehicles of the City Engineer’s Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, GSO, and Bureau of Fire Protection will be stationed at Mohon Terminal, Tagbak Terminal, Calumpang (Breakthru area), Hibao-an Terminal, Baldoza Terminal, and Bo. Obrero.
The Philippine Army will also make available to the city two M35 trucks and two KM450 vehicles from the 82nd Infantry Battalion to transport stranded commuters.
Also, there will be roving fire trucks and ambulances.
Iclajoda-member jeepneys plying these routes will have no trips today: 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.
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.”
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) would make available six patrol jeepneys for stranded commuters.
According to Senior Inspector Shella Mae Sangrines, city police spokesperson, the patrol jeepneys will be deployed as early as 6 a.m. today.
The patrol jeepneys will be label “free public transport.”
Sangrines also said ICPO will maintain peace and order throughout the city./PN
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