CITIES READY BUSES FOR DRIVERS’ STRIKE
Don’t fret, commuters in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue. Your City Government officials say they’ve prepared a fleet of buses and other vehicles to move passengers, in case Monday’s transport strike gets off the ground.
Around 25 private and government buses will be stationed in key areas in Cebu City to ferry stranded passengers during tomorrow’s transport strike.
Cebu City Transportation Office operations head Francisco Ouano said City Hall has prepared 15 buses on top of the 10 buses Ceres Liners will deploy.
The strike is the third one organized by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) this year.
This is the group’s protest against the Department of Transportation’s proposed jeepney modernization program that seeks to phase out jeepneys that are older than 15 years, among others.
In an earlier report, Greg Perez, Piston Cebu coordinator, said that they will conduct their activities in “protest centers” in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.
Perez added that close to 200 members have already committed to join the strike.
But despite this being Piston’s transport strike, Ouano told SunStar Cebu that the activity will not paralyze public transportation.
Ouano said buses will be de- ployed in the Colon area and in portions of N. Bacalso Ave. along Barangay Pardo. Buses will also be stationed in Talamban and in the Capitol area.
More alternatives
“So far, past transport strikes have not severely affected our public transportation in the city. There are also other transportation couriers our riding public can take as an alternative,” Ouano said.
Five Ceres buses in Mandaue City and another five in LapuLapu City will travel to different destinations to ferry passengers that will be affected by the transport strike.
Glenn Antigua, chief for operations of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team), said that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board gave Ceres special permit for these buses.
“Commuters will pay a fare, which is just the same as the amount when riding a public utility jeepney (PUJ),” Antigua said in Cebuano.
Mandaue City is also preparing two flatbed trucks, a Kaoshiung bus and seven L300 vans.
Antigua said City Administrator Danilo Almendras issued a memorandum to department heads to make their vehicles available for the riding public in case the strike will create a huge impact.
“All traffic enforcers will be present on Monday. We are now on a red alert,” he said.
There was no announcement yet of suspension of classes as of yesterday.
Antigua said the mayor will make an announcement on this matter.
In Lapu-Lapu, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Andy Berame said they will try their best for the Ceres buses to be available as early as 6 a.m.
Berame said that two City buses will also be used to ferry stranded passengers.
The buses will travel to SM City Cebu, Parkmall, the Mandaue highway and to other areas depending on the number of commuters.
“These vehicles will be available until the situation becomes normal,” Berame said in Cebuano.
The City Government has no problem with the PUJs plying in the city.
Berame said their concern are PUJs that travel outside the city because some drivers are afraid that the transport group on strike might harm them.