No more transport strike next week

CEBU, Philippines - Metro Cebu commuters are spared from the lack of public transportation anticipated Monday and Tuesday next week after a planed transport strike was called off.

Romeo Armamento, vice president for the Visayas of the National Confederation Transportworkers' Union-Alliance of Progressive Labor, said they had a change of heart after Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, and Land Transportation Office Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan Jr. and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Executive Director Roberto Cabrera III convened and heard their grievances yesterday.

"Among nadesisyonan nga i-call off lang sa tungod sa development karon nga gitagaan mi og higayon ugma nga i-raise among mga (We decided to call off the strike after we were given the chance to voice our) concerns over JAO," Armamento said.

"This is a bold action. Di' mi katuo apan amo mang nakita nga sinsero sila pagtabang sa mga transport groups pinaagi sa emergency meeting.  Kana dako ang among pasalamat kay gi-recognize among presensya nga apil mo-review sa order (We saw their sincerity because they even called an emergency meeting. They also recognized us as part of the body that would review the order," he added.

The meeting happens today at the LTFRB office, and would be attended by transport groups and operators, who would be allowed to speak and raise their concerns against JAO.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, president and general manager of transport cooperative CITRASCO, said he will personally be forwarding the recommendations of the transport groups to DOTC for amendatory action.

"We are not totally against the JAO, but there are some provisions that we are not in favor of.  There's really a need to revise or amend the order," he pointed out.

CITRASCO is the biggest transport cooperative in Cebu. It has around 400 jeepney units and 200 taxi units.  Armamento said they are looking forward to a fruitful discussion with the officials.

"Magkasabot unta sa issues kay valid man pud ang amo. Kini part sa process sa pag-review balik sa unod sa (I just hope we could come up with an agreement because our concerns are valid. We are also made part of the review on) JAO," he said.

Cebu has more or less 6,000 jeepney units.

The two-day Metro Cebu wide transport strike scheduled on July 21 and 22 was supposed to be in protest against the implementation of the DOTC, LTO, LTFRB's Joint Administrative Order 2014-01, which increased the amount of fines against erring drivers.

The said order, which took effect last July 19,  aims to instill discipline among drivers of public utility vehicles, prevent road accidents, ease the perennial problem of traffic jams, and clamp down on unregistered or "colorum" vehicles, among others.

It also contains a revised schedule of fines and penalties for violation of laws, rules and regulations governing land transportation, raising the fines imposed on those found operating colorum vehicles to up to P1 million. — /RHM (FREEMAN)