Transport groups Metro Manila strike on March 11

By Ronron
March 7, 2008

Various transport organizations will stage a strike on Tuesday in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to denounce the alleged abuses of local government units (LGU's) against their members.

FEJODAP national president Zenaida Maranan said the "transport holiday" will start 12:01 AM and end midnight that day.

Participating in the strike are FEJODAP, MJODA, KKPPI, ALTODAP, Pasang Masda, ACTO, NTU Transporter, Nactodap, AUV Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, QC Tricycle TODA, Navotas TODA, Marikina TODA, PADYAK, Provincial Bus Operations Association of the Philippines, Rizal TODA, United Metro Manila Bus Operators Associtation, Pasig TODA, Alyansa ng mga AUV Driber at Operators, and I-UTAK.

Maranan said among their complaints are the use by LGU's of traffic citation tickets, the collection of exorbitant fines, the proliferation of transport terminals, and continuous issuance of new tricycle and pedicab franchises.

"Re-routing in violation of the franchise granted by the national government, ID's and mandatory stickers are just sample programs being implemented by various LGU's for fund raining purposes under the guise of regulation in clear violation of national transport policies and laws," the groups said in a statement.

Maranan said these practices actually "bred widespread corruption on the road."

She said these concerns are on top of their demand for fare increase due to high cost of fuel.

Maranan said they expect a hundred percent paralysis of public transportation in the capital as well as in some areas in Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias said they will provide five trucks to transport passengers on that day, apart from other vehicles that will be put on standby at the national headquarters in Camp Crame.

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Marius Corpuz said the government cannot prevent the groups from holding the transport holiday, saying it falls within their rights.

He said what is important is the groups assured that it will be held "peacefully and orderly" and that the police will be ready to secure both the public and those participating the strike.

As to the concerns of the groups, Corpuz said he brought up with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), particularly the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LFTRB), the possible review of the different ordinances of the various LGU's pertaining to traffic violations by public transport vehicles.

Hopefully, a "uniform and equitable fee" can be arrived at and imposed soon.

Corpuz said the DILG cannot just revoke the ordinances of the LGU's because it only has supervisory powers, and no direct control over them.

"We are ready to cooperate with our public officials in all of their programs and policies for as long as they are legal and for the greater good. In the same vein, we are ready to escalate our cause even further, by way of nationwide transport holiday, in order to defend our rights and protect public interest," the groups said.

Representatives of the participating transport groups held a meeting Friday afternoon at Camp Crame with Barias, Corpuz, and other Metro Manila police officers./DMS