95% of public transport in Bicol paralyzed by strike

By Ephraim Aguilar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 11:35:00 05/12/2008
INQUIRER.net

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines -- Public transportation, mostly jeepneys, was 98 percent paralyzed in Albay and 95 percent off the streets in the provinces of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte as of 9 a.m. Monday as transport groups here joined the nationwide strike led by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston, United Organization of Drivers and Operators Nationwide).

In Catanduanes province, transportation was 100-percent paralyzed in Virac town only, said Joel Ascutia, president of the Concerned Drivers and Operators for Reforms-Piston (Condor-Piston) in Bicol.

Ascutia said the few public utility jeepneys in Masbate also supported the strike by distributing leaflets and streamers.

Piston said it called the strike, not for a fare increase, but to pressure government into repealing the Oil Deregulation Law (which allowed oil firms to set the pump prices) and the 12-percent expanded value added tax (which significantly increased fuel prices).

The absence of public transportation disrupted office work in Legazpi City in Albay even as trucks from the Philippine Army, Philippine
Navy, and the Philippine National Police rushed to help stranded passengers.

In a major business process outsourcing company in Legazpi City, more than 50 percent of the employees in its content department were absent from work, said a 21-year-old employee who asked not to be named for not having authorization to talk to the media.

She said most of those who skipped work were those living in the northeastern and northwestern towns in Albay.

Some vehicles stopped plying their routes as early as midnight Sunday.