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[av_heading heading=’STRIKERS MAY LOSE FRANCHISES’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA and RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Tuesday, February 28, 2017
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ILOILO City – The strike of passenger jeepney drivers and operators yesterday was a violation of their franchises, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6.
Show-cause orders would be issued to jeepney operators. Their franchises could be suspended or even cancelled, warned Atty. Jose Marie Lamparero, LTFRB-6 legal counsel.
“Each franchise issued is accompanied with the terms and conditions that the jeepney operators should comply. Also attached to the franchise is Memorandum Order 2011-004 stating that they must not initiate a strike or there must be no cessation of service with respect to any government action or decision,” said Lamparero.
Yesterday’s jeepney strike was nationwide. It was a collective protest against the government’s plan to phase out jeepneys 15 years old and older for safety and environmental reasons.
Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) Panay president Edgar Salarda declared the one-day strike a success. He claimed “97 percent” of jeepney drivers stayed off the streets.
Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (Iclajoda) president Raymundo Parcon placed it at “98 percent.”
Should the government ignore their concern, another jeepney strike will be staged and this time, it would be for a week, warned Parcon.
The jeepney strike forced Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to suspend classes.
But the city was far from being totally paralyzed. The city government, police and even Philippine Army deployed their service vehicles to transport stranded passengers. Taxis continued to ply the streets together with some Jaro-CPU jeepneys under the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (Icada).
“If it can be proven that they stopped operating because they have some gripes against the government, we can suspend their franchises. Public utility vehicle operators must not goad their drivers to joint activities detrimental to the riding public,” said Lamparero.
He, however, assured jeepney operators and drivers that LTFRB will be observing due process in investigating the strike.
They will be made to explain their reasons for holding the jeepney strike, said Lamparero.
“Under the law, LTFRB has the power to investigate. We will listen to them. We will issue notice of hearings,” he added.
Parcon they are ready to answer LTFRB-6’s show-cause orders.
Lamparero commended public utility vehicle operators that did not join the strike. He said they honored their obligation to serve the public as stipulated in their franchises.
Several jeepneys plying Leganes-Iloilo City and Hibao-an Terminal, Mandurriao routes continued to ply their respective routes.
Taxis and Ceres buses of the Vallacar Transit Inc. decided to proceed with their operations, too, despite harassments.
LTFRB-6 records showed 12,336 registered jeepneys in Western Visayas.
Transport groups that joined the strike included the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Iclajoda), Confederation of Iloilo Provincial Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Cipjoda), Hugpong Capiz, and the Federation of Aklan Integrated Public Transport, Inc. (Faipti) Aklan.
Piston-Negros and the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center in Negros Island Region also joined.
In a previous interview, Iclajoda president Raymundo Parcon told Panay News some van, bus and taxi lines were also participating.
Iclajoda-member jeepneys plying these routes did not have trips yesterday: Baluarte, Calumpang, Jaro Liko, Ungka Itgsi, Ungka People’s Terminal, Pavia, Oton, Mohon Terminal, Mandurriao-City Proper, SM City Mandurriao, Jaro Liko-NFA, Molo Fundidor, Calumpang, and Villa Mohon Terminal.
Also backing the strike were Wilfredo Castro of Central Lines Canova, Maria Rose Celeste of Calinog Bus Line and Secretary-General Jun Ignacio of the Faipti-Aklan./PN
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