Missing the point of the strike

This is always the problem when a transport strike, like the one initiated by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), is launched. The point of the undertaking is missed. Instead, what is sparked is a debate on whether the operation of the public transport system was paralyzed or not.

Okay, let me touch a bit on the question of paralysis. I understand this was a nationwide strike by Piston, which has chapters in many regions of the country. Since the strength of each Piston chapter varies, the extent of the paralysis of the public transport system also varied in each jurisdiction. Where Piston’s presence was strong, the effect of the transport strike was also very observable.

Which makes the overall extent of the paralysis difficult to gauge. In Cebu, for example, I think Piston is particularly strong in Mandaue City but relatively weak in Cebu City. Also, Piston is strong in some public utility jeepney (PUJ) and multicab routes but weak in others.

Thus, when Piston-Cebu coordinator Greg Perez said 80 percent of PUJ routes were paralyzed and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon pegged it at only 20 percent, who is correct is difficult to establish. Both could be wrong or both could be right, or one could be wrong and the other right and vice versa. Which makes the debate pointless.

(An interesting sidelight in the Region 7 transport strike is that years ago Cuizon was on the other side of the fence. No, he wasn’t a PUJ driver or operator but a sympathizer of the causes of the PUJ drivers and operators. I think he was a supporter of some of the paralyzing transport strikes in the ‘80s. Piston itself was organized in that period. Now Cuizon is on the government side.)

But paralysis is not only the measure of the success of a transport strike. Another is the extent of the disruption of the normal activities in a place. Government mobilizing its vehicles to ferry stranded passengers will cost it a good amount of money. Establishments declaring a holiday or having their workers come in late also has an effect on the economy.

Again, discussing that would be unproductive. What is productive is when we focus on the issues raised by the protesters and on how government is acting on these. The main issue is the policy being pushed by the Duterte administration to supposedly modernize the public transport system in the country, which include the phaseout of old vehicles and the introduction of e-jeepneys.

I won’t dwell on the correctness of the government policy but rather focus on the matter of consultation. That a nationwide transport strike was held means that PUJ drivers and operators were not properly consulted on the policy and if they were government did not listen to their opposition or suggestions. In a way, the strike was not only a protest but also a plea to the government to listen.

That is why instead of going after the protesters, like what LTFRB is threatening, government should talk with them and find a common ground with them.