Cebu won't join transport strike

MANILA, Philippines - Transport groups in Cebu will not join the nationwide strike today.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, chairman of the Cebu Confederation of Transport Operators and Drivers, Inc., said it is pointless to join the strike since they have not yet file their petition for a new increase in public utility jeepney fare.

“There is no point in joining the transport strike. It is too premature,” said Yu, who is also the chairman of Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative (CITRASCO).

CCTODI is the umbrella organization of Cebu’s transport associations.

Arman de Gracia, chairman of Alyansa sa Nagkahiusang Drayber-Operator Alang sa Reporma (ANDAR), said that joining the strike will just create inconvenience to the riding public.

“It’s not good to bother our commuters (with another strike),” De Gracia said.

ANDAR, a jeepney transport association, has six major routes in the areas of Apas, Lahug, Talamban, Labangon, Tabunok and Mandaue City (Ibabao and Country Mall).

There are also individual jeepney drivers from different routes who are members of ANDAR, which has the biggest membership among all other jeepney associations in Cebu.

De Gracia said they hope that the petition to increase the jeepney’s minimum fare by P1.50 will be filed today or Friday before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

If approved, jeepney’s minimum fare in Cebu will be P9 from the current P7.50.

De Gracia said they are still in the process of letting jeepeny leaders/drivers sign the fare hike petition which he expects to be finished by 12 noon today.

Transport groups in Metro Manila are launching a strike today to call for the approval of their fare hike petitions as well as in protest of the spiraling cost of fuel. — /LPM (FREEMAN)