Classes on tomorrow despite transport strike

The Department of Education will not be canceling classes tomorrow, Monday, despite threats by transport groups to launch a strike that is expected to cripple jeepney routes in Cebu City.

DepEd regional director Carolino Mordeno said that students need not worry about transport strikes, as nowadays, students are being enrolled in their respective barangays so that they don’t have to utilize public utility vehicles to get to school.

Mordeno added that Kaohsiung buses will also be made available for commuters so that they won’t be bothered by the strike.

A transport group said it will go on strike tomorrow “regardless of whether or not their demand for an increase in fare is granted.”

Ruben Rama, secretary general of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu, announced the move in a press conference at the group’s headquarters along Ouano Avenue in Mandaue City.

Rama said jeepney drivers can no longer take the series of fuel increases while it’s not clear yet if their demand for increase in fare will be granted.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board had given the transport group until tomorrow to present supporting papers for their demand.

The Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative and the Visayas United Drivers Transport and Allied Services Cooperative were the ones who first scheduled a strike supposedly yesterday.

They called it off after a public hearing last week showed positive results.

Tomorrow, drivers will stop plying their routes from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. The schedule is chosen so commuters will not experience the inconvenience of getting rides to their destinations only to find themselves stranded in the afternoon, Rama said.

With the planned strike, the Police Regional Office-7 will hoist the heightened alert status tomorrow all over the city.

“There will be police visibility to prevent any untoward incident,” PRO-7 Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos said during the Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis.

The Cebu City Police Office, on the other hand, will intensify the conduct of checkpoints and motor stops in their respective areas of responsibility.

The checkpoints will be conducted at the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, at the vicinity of Gaisano Metro Colon, and Malacañang sa Sugbu.

Further, the South Road Properties police would intensify checkpoints especially on vehicles bound for the downtown area tomorrow.

There will also be a reassignment of 20 beat personnel to escort the Kaohsiung buses and other vehicles provided for stranded ferry passengers.

To ensure smooth and fast flow of traffic, the number of traffic policemen, Citom enforcers, and parking aides will be maximized. —Jasmin R. Uy and Joy Kareen T. Saliente/MEEV