BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS, JEN BAYLON & IME SORNITO
ILOILO City – The first day of the three-day nationwide transport strike yesterday was generally peaceful in this city, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
The ICPO successfully implemented its comprehensive security plan to ensure the safety of the public and orderliness in the city. No untoward incident was reported as of 2 p.m. yesterday, said ICPO spokesperson Major Shella Mae Sangrines.
Panay News, meanwhile, patrolled around the city yesterday and the situation remained normal with many traditional and modernized jeepney drivers not joining the strike.
Ely Jardeleza, 47, and a driver of traditional jeepney from San Joaquin town said he did not join the strike following an order from their cooperative president.
“Ang hambal sang amon presidente nga mabiyahe kami kay wala sila magsunod sa strike. Wala kami mahimu, ti sundon ang presidente namon,” he said.
He added, however, that that he would join the strike if given the chance.
“Ga-strike gani ang Miag-ao kag ang Villa nga WVTC, dapat maugyon kami. Ti anhon ta na kay hambal ka presidente sang amon coop mabiyahe kami, ti wala kami mahimu,” Jardeleza added.
Another traditional jeepney driver of Mohon route, Marcelino Tagaroma, 52, said that he also did not join the strike as instructed by their chairman.
A driver for almost 11 years, Tagaroma said he had never participated in any transport strikes before.
Modernized jeepney driver Leo Matillano, 36, had the same reason with Tagaroma for not joining the strike.
“Depende man siyempre. Diri na kami naka-apply ti kung ano patakaran nila (cooperative president), masunod lang kami,” he said.
For his part, Anthony Sion, said he would be willing to join the strike if his fellow drivers would also join. But he later decided not to for his family’s sake.
“Maintra kami kung kabilugan kay siyempre kami wala kami inugbakal sud-an kag bugas kag balon sa mga bata, tapos ang iban nagabiyahe. Ti lugi tamon, amo ran gapanilag ako kung may gabiyahe kung wala. Nakita ko man may nagbiyahe, nagbiyahe na lang kami, amo man lang ran ang napanilagan ko kaina ,” said Sion, a Barotac Nuevo traditional jeepney driver.
He added he is not in favor of the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.
“Hindi kami gusto nga ma-phase out (traditional jeepneys). Tama gid kadaku madula sa amon kung ma-phase-outan kami,” he said.
One-day Strike
Meanwhile, instead of three days, the “No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay” only conducted a one-day transport strike.
The group represents the operators and drivers who are against the government’s public transport modernization program.
Yesterday’s strike, according to No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay president Warren Gangoso was successful.
Gangoso told Panay News that 300 to 400 unconsolidated jeepneys and 80 percent of the 2,500 consolidated jeepneys joined the strike in this city yesterday.
He added that Mohon terminal in Arevalo district, Tagbak terminal in Jaro district, and People’s Terminal in Pavia town were the most affected of the strike.
For his part, Elmer Forro, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Panay secretary general, said it was only a one-day strike because their permit is only for one day.
“Ang Manila mapadayun sila pero diri sa aton subong lang nga adlaw sia ining welga para ipakita ang aton pag-upod sa sentimiento kag panawagan nga dapat i-atras ang compulsory consolidation sa Dec. 31,” Forro said in an interview with Panay News yesterday.
Meanwhile, here are the operating routes during yesterday’s transport strike:
* Jaro Liko NFA
* Jaro CPU/Ungka ITGSI
* Lapuz
* Mandurriao SM
* Mandurriao – Molo
* Mandurriao – Jaro Plaza
* Parola Super via SM City
* Arevalo Villa
* Ungka Iloilo City
* Jaro CPU
* Molo Baluarte
* Arevalo to Jaro Liko Tagbak
* Jibao-an Pavia Iloilo City
* Bo. Obrero to Iloilo City Proper Loop
* Hibao-an Iloilo City Proper via Tabucan
* Tagbak to Iloilo City Proper
* Ungka to Iloilo City via Diversion
* Bito-on to Jaro via Balabago Loop
* San Miguel via Festive
* Ungka to Iloilo City via CPU
* Leganes via Aquino Avenue
* Lapaz to Iloilo City via ISAT-U
* Leganes Lapaz
* Oton Anhawan
* Oton Derecho/PN
