Transport strike: An economic sabotage

Globally, there are so many contentious issues at hand. Definitely, more are yet to come. Extremism is one and the war between Ukraine and Russia is another. Needless to say, the ongoing trade war between two economic giants in the USA and China and their respective attempts at influencing the world order is a primary concern.

With these concerns overwhelming, the consequences are severe. As supply of basic commodities is disrupted, inflation pervades globally.

Domestically, history tells us that fuel prices always topped the list. Why? Basic need, as it is, we are all affected by its rise. With these increases coupled with the peso’s weakness against the US dollar (as we import almost all of our needs), local retail prices have been doubly hit. Collectively, with these two scenarios prevailing, fuel prices are already sickening. Worse, in huge metropolis like Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, where traffic jams double fuel consumption, oil-related miseries are becoming so unbearable.

Sadly, when fuel prices go up, jeepney operators/ drivers, automatically demand for fare increases, as if the commuters do not suffer already from the consequences of it. Supposedly, it goes through a process. Yet, usually, they go on strike to pressure regulators to raise fares right away and to the inconvenience of the commuting public. Inversely, when fuel prices go down, they refuse to bring the fares down proportionately. Selfishly, they would like to go through the long process and enjoy the drop in fuel prices to the hilt.

In all of these and similar situations, jeepney drivers have always remained adamant. They even went on strike countless of times when their unreasonable demands (such as, oil price related issues, the administrative order increasing fines, etc.) were not heeded. Obviously, a blatant display of arrogance of people whose undertakings thrive under a certificate of public convenience.

Today, another nationwide transport strike looms. This time, due to their usual opposition of the government’s modernization program. Another act of extremism, allegedly, it will last for a week.

Why is the reaction so extreme, we may ask? What’s wrong with modernization? Well, one of their concerns is the borrowing cost. Now, let’s look into that more intently. With fuel prices always on the high side, is it not a good option to go for fuel efficient units? With a newer fleet, is it not that the operators and drivers can minimize downtimes? Is it not true too that repair or maintenance costs can be brought down significantly? With old units downright smoke belchers, is this program not good for the environment?

Obviously, therefore, not only that the program will improve the quality of air that we inhale, prospective unit owners themselves will earn more. In earning more, they can certainly cover the borrowing cost as well as the acquisition cost of these units. The only concern that both the government financial institutions and the proponents must look into reasonably are the terms of payment and interest rate of the loan.

However, should these transport owners and drivers won’t budge, they must be reminded of the consequences of the strikes in the past. In those transport strikes, we’ve always been in the receiving end of their shenanigans. Obviously infiltrated with ideologues, then, these bunch of bullies were harassing sensible drivers who continued to ply their routes. Feeling ignored, these thugs resorted to throwing metal spikes in the middle of the road to incapacitate the non-striking drivers’ units.

Consequently, classes were suspended. Some workers arrived late and others went on leave. As the days ended, long queues in several intersections were ordinary sights. Carbon and other satellite markets’ crowds were relatively scarce as most diehard patrons were immobilized.

Sadists that they were, these ruffians rejoiced in all those inconveniences we were in. They were trumpeting here and there about how successful the transport strikes were. They rejoiced without realizing that in doing so, they successfully pulled the school children several days back to illiteracy and further impoverished the families of ordinary employees who were not able to earn for days.

Such strikes did not only bring us inconceivable discomforts. It also dealt us immeasurable losses brought about by economic inactivity.

Indeed, an economic sabotage.