Cebu transport groups won’t join strike

As several transport groups in Metro Manila gear up for a massive strike today, local transport groups said they are not holding a strike in Cebu.

Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo north bound secretary Gregorio Perez said that NADSU will not be joining the protest actions although they are extending their support to their Manila counterparts.

Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association President Nick Villahermosa said his group is not planning to hold any strike since they can still manage to operate with the current fare rate they are collecting.

The Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association is also not joining.

Transport leaders here said they saw no reason to hold a sympathy strike since the Metro Manila strike centered on issues affecting only the National Capital Region.

Various jeepney, bus and taxi transport groups will hold a Metro Manila-wide strike today in protest against the “negligence and lack of political will” of the authorities to implement a single ticketing system for traffic violations.

The transport strike will be led by transport coalition 1-United Transport Koalisyon and militant transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide.

Other groups that are going to join the action are 1-Utak members like the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers of the Philippines, the Philippine Bus Operators Association and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization.

The groups have long been pushing for a nationwide transport policy that will implement a single ticketing system in Metro Manila. Currently, every local government unit is using an Ordinance Violation Receipt or OVR.  — Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP