BACOLOD City – In response to a two-day strike by the Negros United Transport Coalition (NUTC), the city government here has announced the provision of free transportation to assist potentially stranded commuters.
The strike, initiated by groups of unconsolidated traditional jeepney operators, commenced yesterday.
Mae Cuaycong, special assistant to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, confirmed the deployment of city buses and vans across four strategic locations to ensure continuous commuter service.
The designated routes include Bata-Libertad, Sum-ag-Central Market, Granada-Burgos, and Handumanan-Libertad.
The NUTC, comprising several transport organizations like Kabakod Negros Transport Coalition Incorporated (KNETCO), United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC), Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers Inc. (BACOD), and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), called for the strike to press for negotiations with city officials regarding vehicle registration and consolidation issues.
Rudy Catedral, president of BACOD, indicated that the strike could be called off if discussions on the first day yield positive outcomes.
Despite the strike, Cuaycong reported minimal disruption on the first day, with only a brief early morning instance of about 25 passengers found standing along a flyover in Barangay Bata.
The city government remains on alert, with additional vehicles on standby and support from the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) and local police.
It also maintains a Command Post to manage the situation and invites the public to report any transportation issues during the strike period to their hotline (09918929095) or through the “Isugid kay Mayor” Facebook page./PN
