By Ephraim Aguilar, Roy Gersalia, Juan Escandor Jr.
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 04:48:00 11/27/2008
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Public transport was virtually paralyzed in Albay province and about 70 percent of public transport was halted in Sorsogon province.
George San Mateo, Piston secretary general, claimed that 70 percent of vehicular traffic was paralyzed in Naga City and 90 percent in Iriga City.
No strike took place in Catanduanes province while a transport caravan was held in Masbate province. Figures were still being gathered in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte provinces as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Supt. Eliciar Bron, Bicol police spokesperson, said more than 10 government vehicles had been deployed to offer free rides to the public.
The Philippine National Police, Army, Air Force, Navy and local government units initiated a free-ride program.
Other drivers ply routes
In Sorsogon, the strike paralyzed the transport of passengers to the towns of Gubat, Juban, Magallanes, Irosin, Matnog and Bulan.
But Mike Frayna, president of the Federated Association of Sorsogon Tricycle Operators and Drivers, said not all drivers joined the mass action.
Some drivers in other groups, who earlier said they would join the nationwide strike, did not do so and instead continued to fetch passengers.
Frayna particularly referred to Provincial Transport Alliance president Ding Bobis, who earlier said his group would lead the transport strike but was the “first” to continue carrying passengers bound for Legazpi City.
Bobis is one of the drivers of Filcab vans from Sorsogon to Legazpi.
Naga City officials said transport services continued unhampered even as members of Condor-Piston participated in the strike. They said a majority of the drivers from other transport groups continued plying their routes.
Lito del Rosario, chief of the Naga City Public Safety Office, said the overall situation of the transportation services in the city was normal as of early morning Wednesday.
He announced that there was no need for the schools to suspend classes.
Short notice
Tyrone Jaucian, leader of the Federation of Trimobile Operators and Drivers in Naga Inc., complained that his group was not prepared to take part in the strike because it was informed at short notice.
Jaucian said the group only committed support to the strike.
Rafael Duque, president of the Federation of Transport Operators Drivers Association and Cooperatives (Fetrodaco), said nothing happened even as he committed on Tuesday the participation of his group in the region-wide strike.
Duque pledged that all the drivers and units of Fetrodaco, a province-wide transport organization, would stop plying their routes but cautioned that they could not guarantee a 100-percent transport paralysis because of the short notice.
Joel Ascutia, regional chair of the Concerned Drivers and Operators for Reform (Condor)-Piston, said Shell, Chevron and Petron should implement a one-time big rollback since oil prices in the world market had dropped significantly.
San Mateo said a transport caravan would proceed to Metro Manila on Nov. 28 and visit the main offices of the Big 3.
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