TRANSPORT organizations yesterday said a
Metro Manila-wide "transport holiday" will go on as planned on
Tuesday due to government's failure to address their grievances.
The Metro Manila Bus Operators Association
said it will pull out 5,000 buses, the Provincial Bus Operators
Association of the Philippines said its 22 members will ground
some 3,000 buses while PISTON promised that all of its 50,000
members will stay home on March 11.
Other groups joining the strike are the
Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the
Philippines, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers
Association of the Philippines, Philippine Confederation of
Drivers Organization, Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators,
and taxi drivers.
The strike is expected to be felt throughout
the metropolis and in neighboring provinces of Cavite, Laguna
and Bulacan.
Lawyer Vigor Mendoza, pre-sident of One
United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak), the umbrella group of these
transport groups, said they could go on nationwide strike if
government continues to ignore their complaints.
Among these are the following: duplication of
traffic laws by the Land Transportation Office and local
government units and stiff penalties for traffic violations; the
LGU quota of 10 apprehensions daily for its traffic enforcers;
driver's inability to use the ordinance violation receipt of
LGUs as temporary driver's license; illegal confiscation of
driver's license by traffic enforcers; illegal terminals; and
the continued issuance of franchises to pedicabs.
Interior Undersecretary for Public Safety
Marius Corpus said the DILG will coordinate with the LGUs in
Metro Manila for a review of ordinances which affect the
transport sector.
Metro Manila police chief Director Geary Barias said they
will field five 6x6 trucks for stranded passengers on Tuesday.
- Randy Nobleza and Raymond Africa
