Business as usual
Some PUV drivers still operate despite strike
The Davao City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) noted that around 60 percent of public utility vehicles (PUV) were in operation yesterday amid the transportation strike staged by Transmision- -Piston.
Rhodelio Poliquit, CTTMO officer-in-charge, said that majority of Davao drivers opted not to participate in the strike during the morning peak hours, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Poliquit said this is based from the data of the Public Safety and Security Command Center.
Most of the Dabawenyos in social media accounts expressed that they did not experience any difficulty to commute yesterday despite the transport strike.
As a jeepney driver for
six years, Rogelio Estopito, 43 years-old, chose not to participate in the transport strike because he does not believe that it will influence the government to cancel the modernization plan for public jeepneys.
Estopito said though the modernization has to be done if this will aid the traffic situation currently present in the country.
"It is really expensive but I believe that the government will not let us, the jeepney drivers, unguided," he said in vernacular.
Perfecto Luminos, a 26 yearsold taxi driver, also said he did not participate because he saw the strike as an opportunity as there were less PUVs available for the commuters.
Some taxicabs continue their trip on thoroughfares despite the nationwide transport strike mounted on Thursday by the groups opposing the PUV modernization program of the government.
Venerando Paredes, a driver of the Blue Taxi, said most of the drivers of the Blue and Mabuhay taxi ply on the streets despite the transport strike to earn income. He added that the needs for their families matters most.
"Malaki-laki rin ang mawawala sa isang araw kung hindi ako kakayod. Meron akong pamilyang binubuhay. Mahalaga bawat sentimo na kinikita ko sa araw-araw, para sa pamilya ko," Paredes, in an interview, said.
Paredes also said there is nothing wrong about the plan of the government to modernize the PUV. He added that it is, in fact, for the common good. He added that he trust President Rodrigo Duterte on his decisions.
Dodo Somalinog, an individual taxi driver, also echoed the same response with Paredes. He said if he joins the protest his family will be starving, though he understands the concerns of the other taxi/jeepney drivers.
"Ni re-respeto ko naman yung kanilang gustong mangyari, pero hindi ibig sabihin niyan na isa-sakripisyo ko yung mga pangangailan ng aking pamilya. Bakit di nalang nila pagkatiwalaan ang ating pangulo," he added.
Somalinog said the president would not make any decision that is not good for everybody. He added that why not others would give him the chance to do the right thing.
Meanwhile, Poliquit said that in line with the strike, about 30 buses were tapped for special trips.
Fifteen dump trucks from Davao City Engineer's Office were deployed to give free rides to people within Davao City including those who are in Calinan and Mintal. Some of these trucks were also assigned for loop service in downtown areas.
Poliquit said the bus and the trucks stayed until around 6pm in case there are passengers who will be stranded.
He said that as of 1:18 p.m. yesterday, the traffic was back to normal.
Poliquit added that though many passengers were affected in the strike, it can be noted that there was a smooth flow of traffic with the absence of some PUJs.