YESTERDAY’S nationwide transport strike was legal, falling within the ambit of the Bill of Rights guaranteed by Article III, Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
But its purpose – to frustrate the government’s move to modernize public transport jeepneys by July 2020 – strikes us as a step in the wrong direction.
Operators and jeepney drivers opposed to the idea could not prevent those in favor to level up.
Rather than be pessimistic about the modernization program on the alibi that it’s beyond their means, why would they not prepare for that 2020 deadline and join the competition? If others can do it, why can’t they? For it they can’t, they would find themselves thrown in the proverbial kangkongan.
It’s because passengers would naturally opt to patronize new jeepneys, especially if they are air-conditioned.
On the part of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), their way to meet half-way with the strikers is simply to religiously implement the existing ban on “rolling coffins” (non-roadworthy) and smoke-belching passenger vehicles.
To be sure that these unwanted relics would eventually die a natural death, all the government has to do is to disallow entry of reconditioned engine, which is the stuff that runs locally-assembled (pasad) jeepneys and buses.
We have no problem with new engines because their manufacturers now observe the so-called “Euro 4” standard. As explained to this writer by Rene Tagamolila (Iloilo branch manager of Isuzu), Euro 4 as coined by the European Union ensures that each vehicular engine is fitted with emission-cleaning device, hence free from harmful chemicals.
The Filipino phrase “matigas ang ulo” aptly describes transportation operators who resort to strikes to force the government to grant their demands.
Of course, there have been times when their action resulted in a seemingly favorable government reaction – as in upward adjustment in fares – but it must have done more harm than good not just to the commuters but to the strikers themselves.
To cite an example, it has pushed the pestered wage earners to “retaliate” by buying a car or motorbike by installment. It could be cheaper than paying fare in the long run.
Too many private vehicles on the road, of course, further congest traffic, resulting in passenger vehicles running lesser number of trips for lesser income.
Meanwhile, the kawawang drivers would find it harder to cope with the “boundary” or daily rental imposed by the operators.
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Here’s another problem throwing the drivers in harm’s way – the concrete electric poles of Panay Electric Co. (PECO) that still remain standing on vehicular lanes of widened public roads in Iloilo City. PECO should have replanted the poles on safer ground.
It proves that the barangay captains have not fully complied with the order of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to remove obstructions on public roads.
Why has Mayor Jerry Treñas allowed PECO’s encroachment?
Having lost its power-distribution franchise, however, PECO has no more authority to occupy public property. That authority now belongs to the new franchisee as mandated by law (Republic Act 11212), MORE Electric and Power Corp.
Judge Yvette Go (RTC Iloilo Branch 37) has long ago approved the issuance of a writ of possession.
It is now in the hands of Judge Daniel Amular (Branch 35) to urgently issue that writ to facilitate the turnover of the power-distribution system to MORE Power. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
