GO ON STRIKE AND RISK PUBLIC’S IRE, DRIVERS TOLD

Avail yourselves of legal remedies instead of holding a massive nationwide transport strike.

This was the advice of Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon to drivers and operators who plan to join the rally tomorrow.

“The move may affect the decision of the public to grant their request since they will be inconvenienced by the strike,” he said.

Leaders of transport groups Stop and Go Coalition, No to Jeepney Phase Out Coalition and party-list Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Na- tionwide (Piston) first organized a strike last Feb. 6, which forced the suspension of work and classes in the cities of Manila and Malabon.

The activity was their response to the government's alleged inaction to their appeal to amend the current version of the modernization program, which provides for the replacement of jeepneys over 15 years old.

It did not help that they have yet to hear of their pending petition to increase the minimum fare, prompting them to call for another protest.

However, the demonstration tomorrow will not only happen in Metro Manila, but in over 20 municipalities and cities all over the country, including Cebu City.

But Cuizon lamented that the move will just make the transport groups unpopular to the public and may affect their pending petition.

Instead of disrupting the flow of public transport, he suggested that the groups to avail themselves of any legal remedy as a way of protesting.

The group may opt to go to court, create an online petition and seek the help of legislators to sponsor bills that will benefit them, Cuizon said.

The Cebu City Government, for its part, will deploy at least 10 Kaohsiung buses that will ferry stranded passengers for free.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the City Council committee on public order and safety, said the City-owned vehicles will be deployed in key areas as early as 5 a.m., until the transport groups end their protest.

The identified key areas are Bulacao, Inayawan, Labangon, Banawa, Guadalupe, Talamban, Lahug, Mabolo SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu and the downtown area.

“Initially, we will deploy 10 buses but if the need arises, the City is prepared to add more buses including its other vehicles,” Tumulak said.

He, however, clarified that if the traffic is normal and there are enough public utility vehicles, then buses will not be deployed.

Each bus will be accompanied by two police personnel and a communicator from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to safeguard passengers.

Transport groups to demonstrate in Metro Manila and 20 municipalities and cities, including Cebu City

If strike pushes through tomorrow, "it might make them unpopular to the public and affect their pending petition"