MAJOR public transport groups called off
their strike in Metro Manila before noon yesterday after
Malacañang announced the issuance of an executive order
addressing their concerns, principally the implementation of a
single traffic violation ticketing system in the metropolis.
Thousands of commuters were stranded in the
strike which started at midnight Tuesday. From 90 to 95 percent
of the metropolis was paralyzed, according to organizers of the
holiday transport that had been planned to last 24 hours.
Director Geary Barias, chief of the Metro
Manila police, said about 80 percent of public transport was
paralyzed around 9 a.m.
The worst-hit areas were Commonwealth avenue
in Quezon City, parts of Pasay City, and the Quiapo district in
Manila, he said.
Classes were suspended in several colleges
and universities, mostly in Manila and Quezon cities.
The PNP said except for minor disturbances,
the protest action in Metro Manila and nearby provinces was
peaceful.
The PNP downgraded its alert to normal around
noon. The military’s National Capital Region Command, which was
on standby for deployment if needed by the PNP, lowered its red
alert to blue last night.
The PNP, NCRcom, and the Metro Manila
Development Authority have deployed at least 100 vehicles,
including buses, utility vans, cars and dump trucks, along major
routes and in areas where there are no LRT and MRT terminals.
Arroyo, in Executive Order 712 which she
signed Monday night, ordered the Metro Manila Development
Authority to oversee the implementation of the single ticketing
system in the metropolis.
MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando said he is
sending a letter to Metro Manila mayors about the adoption of
the single ticketing system.
Fernando approved the implementation of the
single ticketing system in November last year, with a majority
of the MMDA Council – 10 mayors – agreeing to it.
But the drafting of the implementing rules
was delayed by six mayors who are of the position that local
government units have the authority to implement their own
traffic codes. They are Mayors Alfredo Lim of Manila, Victor
Joseph "JV" Ejercito of San Juan, Jejomar Binay of Makati,
Wenceslao Trinidad of Pasay, Freddie Tiñga of Taguig, and Toby
Tiangco of Navotas.
Under the new scheme, violators would no
longer be required to surrender their driver’s license. They can
also settle fines at any bank to be designated by the MMDA. The
new method will be more convenient, particularly for traffic
violators living outside Metro Manila.
Among the provisions of the executive order:
• For the Department of Transportation and
Communication to review rules affecting public utility vehicle
operations, including the issuance of franchises, establishment
and operation of transport terminals, implementation of
rerouting schemes that violate franchise routes, and issuance of
traffic citation tickets.
• For the DOTC to draft a National Land
Transport Framework aimed at modernizing the land transportation
industry, including the promotion of environment-friendly
utility services, use of alternative fuels and renewable energy,
and provision of technical and lease-to-own programs.
• For the Department of Interior and Local
Government to implement a uniform truck ban period.
The President reiterated that the rising oil
prices, which the transport groups have also complained about,
is a global issue that is beyond the control of any government.
"We have nevertheless taken and will continue
to take actions to reduce the pain on our people," she said,
adding the cut on oil tariff and the passage of the budget are
among the "buffers to mitigate the pain of a global economy and
the accompanying rise in prices which affects food and
transportation the most."
Alberto Suansing, chief of the Land
Transportation Office, said the transport groups called off the
strike at around 11 a.m. after receiving a copy of EO 712.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said
EO 712 will cover, among others, the single ticketing system,
truck ban, terminal fees and franchise to tricycle operators.
The EO will be implemented in 15 days, he said.
The Federation of Jeepney Operators and
Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) thanked Arroyo
for acting on their problems.
Among other groups that participated in the transport holiday
were the Pinag-isang Samahan ng Tsuper Operaytors Nationwide,
Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the
Philippines, Philippine Confederation of Drivers and
Operators-Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization, Pasang
Masda Nationwide Inc., Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers
Association, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers of the
Philippines, and Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association, and
tricycle and pedicab groups. – Ashzel Hachero, Jocelyn
Montemayor, Victor Reyes, Raymond Africa and Randy Nobleza
