BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The first of the two-day transport strike yesterday had not affected the operation of the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
There were no complaints of hampered capitol services, according to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
The provincial government mobilized its buses to transport capitol employees. Carpooling was also observed.
But strike organizer United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) secretary-general Diego Malacad claimed they managed to paralyze “98 percent” of the transportation in Bacolod City.
Some public utility vehicles (PUVs) that operated in the morning were blocked by protesting drivers.
There was a report, too, that a striking driver hit a colleague who refused to participate in the strike.
The Bacolod City government deployed shuttle services, too, for its employees.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said it is business as usual in the city government to ensure that services to its constituents are not disrupted.
“The city government is offering free rides to government employees and the general public that may be stranded due to the transport strike,” he said.
While city government commiserates with the transport groups’ sentiments and disappointments, Leonardia appealed for sobriety during the transport strike.
City Administrator Edward Joseph Cuansing said the city government has allocated nine service vehicles, including buses, van and rescue trucks, to ply seven point-to-point routes.
From the designated pick-up points, where the vehicles took off as early as 4 a.m., passengers are transported to a common drop-off point at the Bacolod public plaza. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
