‘Jeepney strike a flop’

Malacañang said yesterday’s nationwide jeepney strike "flopped" after many drivers refused to stop plying their routes and join the mass action.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said the strike appeared to have fizzled out because leaders and members of Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) must have realized that they had inconvenienced the public.

"We’re happy that our drivers, jeepney operators have realized that this would cause only a very grave inconvenience, especially now with the coming long weekend," Tiglao said.

On the other hand, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the strike failed to strand commuters in Metro Manila.

"(DOTC) operatives were assigned at strategic areas to monitor events and activities relative to the transport strike," the DOTC said. "Generally, there were no reported stranded passengers."

However, Piston president Medardo Roda said they did not go on strike but held a "stoppage of operation" of jeepneys at a certain period of time.

"It’s not a strike so we did not expect to paralyze transportation," he said. "It’s called ‘Tigil Pasada.’ We just set a certain period during which jeepney drivers will stop plying their routes."

Roda said 70 percent of Piston’s 150,000 members had taken part in the mass action, from 6-10 a.m. and from 1-4 p.m., along with "some members" of other transport organizations to protest rising oil prices.

"Fuel prices have been increasing unnecessarily," he said. "Oil has become a milking cow for many businessmen but the government has not done anything about it."

Roda said 80 percent of striking jeepney drivers in Metro Manila were from Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela cities, and the town of Navotas.

"The Arroyo government must listen to our warning or we will be forced to take more widespread protect action," he said.

Roda said jeepneys also stopped plying the Cubao-Divisoria and Cubao-España routes, and in the Alabang-Zapote Road in Muntinlupa, he added.

Roda said the strike also paralyzed 70 percent of Pampanga and the whole of Angeles City.

In General Santos City, Piston members picketed the oil depot, while in Baguio, Iloilo and Legaspi cities, and the province of Sorsogon, they picketed the streets and held noise barrages, he added.

Meanwhile, Jaime Legaspi Jr., acting head of the DOTC Action Center, said they have fielded buses to pick up passengers from strategic points in coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Metro Manila Development Authority ( MMDA).

"Coordination with the LTFRB and MMDA was set for enforcement assistance," he said. "We are also monitoring activities in the provinces."

In a statement from San Jose, California, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the LTFRB and the DOTC are taking the necessary steps to resolve the problem.

"The President is appealing that the matter be discussed and settled so it won’t lead to a strike that would affect the people," he said. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Mayen Jaymalin, Sandy Araneta