BY IME SORNITO AND RM CALANTAS
ILOILO City – Only commuters from the southern part of Iloilo province appeared to have felt the effects of the transport strike organized by the “No to PUV [Public Utility Vehicle] Phaseout Coalition-Panay.”
Traditional jeepneys plying the Mohon Terminal to Iloilo City Proper route joined yesterday’s protest.
Jenny Rose Jimenez from Miag-ao, Iloilo was among those who tried to leave home early in anticipation of the inconvenience. Yet, she said, “Na-late gid ako eh,” referring to her over-fasting for a supposed medical examination procedure.
“Kontani magbiyahe na lang ang tanan nga dyep para wala man hassle,” Jimenez added.
Tigbauan town residents Jovelyn Rabina and Joventina Toreco experienced the same.
“Budlay eh, budlay magsakay kay naga-strike,” said Toreco, who was supposed to go to Jaro district but decided to go home.
Florenda Vigas of Igbaras, Iloilo lamented the same: “Budlay gid ka tama.”
Vigas’ commute to Ajuy town was already delayed due to traffic on an under-construction bridge in Barangay Parara, Tigbauan. And although she was aware of the strike, she was unable to anticipate the volume of PUVs who would join.
Transport strikers claim success
The “No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay” president and Villa Transport Association president Warren Gangoso said the transport strike had succeeded.
“Nagakalipay kag nagapasalamat kami sa nag-ugyon sa aton panawagan, nakita ta no nga paralisado gid ang aton terminals, sa southern, northern and central lines ta and even sa city loop jeepneys,” Gangoso told Panay News on Monday afternoon.
In Mohon Terminal, almost 100 percent of traditional jeepneys halted operations, he added.
Gangoso said this is more than the outcome “No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay” expected.
Because of this, Gangoso thanked everyone who joined the transport strike, particularly the drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys, students, professionals, vendors, farmers, commuters, and other sectors.
Gangoso hoped that the national government would heed their request to set a date so that they could meet with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6. He said they would raise the concerns of the drivers and operators who have become members of the cooperatives but, until now, have not received the salary or benefits promised to them.
“Ang drivers nga gin-promisahan sang insakto nga sweldo kag full benefits ngaa asta subong wala pa daw nag-abot. So wala gid kita ginpamatian sang LTFRB bisan diutay nga tion ang ginpangayo ta,” he added.
The “No to PUV Phaseout Coalition-Panay” held a transport strike against the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP), believing it would rob the livelihood of poor traditional jeepney operators and drivers.
They are calling on the national government, particularly the Department of Transportation and LTFRB, for the following:
* suspend the implementation of the PUVMP while reviewing the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines
* restore the five-year validity of the franchise
* review Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) first; restore old PUV routes in the meantime
* restore the sale-and-transfer of franchises to operators
* provide support and assistance to drivers and operators
* maintain affordable and sustainable jeep manufacturing methods.
Strike felt ‘only’ in Mohon Terminal
The “No to Transport Strike Coalition” said the transport strike in Iloilo was not a success as it was only felt at the Mohon Terminal.
The “No to Transport Strike Coalition” is an alliance of different transport cooperatives, corporations, associations, operators and drivers in Western Visayas.
Edgar Salarda, president of the Alliance for Peace Sustainable Development Transport Cooperative and one of the lead convenors of the “No to Transport Strike Coalition,” countered the “successful strike claim.
He said based on their monitoring, “Isa lang sang daw medyo nagpugok ang traffic according sa na-monitor sa Mohon Terminal. Medyo kulang-kulang lang gamay ang salakyan didto pasulod sa syudad but sa iban nga ruta like sa Aleosan, Ungka kag Tagbak normal ang biyahe sang salakyan,” Salarda told Panay News on Monday noon.
The Villa Arevalo Mohon Terminal to City Proper, he said, particularly lacked modern jeepney units. But both modern and traditional provincial jeepneys in the 1st District and terminals around the city were sufficient.
“Ang sa 1st District nga mga dyep and modernized sige ila biyahe. Ang Villa lang nga dyep amo medyo kulang,” Salarda added.
Traditional jeepney driver Rodane Bernaje of Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district, who plies the Leganes-SM City Highway route, said he did not join the strike. His operator was able to enter into a cooperative.
Bernaje also believed his income would be affected if he joined.
“Kay waay man kami ginhambalan sang amon cooperative nga mag-upod sa transport strike. Kag ti mag-strike amo man gihapon, pierde ka pa gid kon indi ka magbiyahe, wala kaw kwarta” Bernaje said./PN
