Transport strike fails to paralyze Oro

By Jigger J. Jerusalem
Correspondent .

THE nationwide transport strike staged by some groups here yesterday failed to paralyzed the city as jeepneys continue to ply the streets and major thoroughfares.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-10) Regional Director Aminoden Guro said this could be due to the fact that most of the transport groups in the city are already amenable to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of the Duterte administration.

“Most of them have already understood and have appreciated the advantages of the PUVMP,” Guro said, in reference to the transport groups who refused to join the strike.

“It’s (transport strike) actually useless to take to the streets because this program, whether they like it or not, will be pushed through by the government,” he added.

Guro said it is only now that the government is not intimidated by protest actions by transport groups as it is bent on implementing the PUVMP by next year.

He said the groups who have participated in the transport disruption such as Acto, Piston and Pasang Masda have no members in the city.

The National Confederation of Transport Union, the only collective that has members here, has previously signified that they will not join the strike, he said.

Besides, Guro said, they will not hesitate to enforce the LTFRB memorandum circular that orders the revocation of franchise to any PUV driver or operator that will take part in a transport strike.

Guro was referring to MC 2011-004 that states: “The PUV operator shall not resort to cessation of service as a sign or demonstration of protest against any government decision or action under pain of suspension or cancellation of the authority to operate granted by the Board nor shall the PUV operator tolerate, allow or authorize personnel to join other committing acts prejudicial to the riding public including, but not limited to paralyzing transport services by intimidation, coercion or violence,”

“I want to remind them that the franchise is a privilege granted to them by the government, and if resort actions that would convenience the riding public, then we have the power to revoke that franchise,” he said.

Those who did not operate Monday will have to explain to the LTFRB the reason why, he said.

“If their excuse why they were not able to operate during the date of the transport strike is justifiable, then we will consider it. But if their reason is not justifiable, then we will be forced to revoke their franchise,” Guro said.