Central Luzon transport strike fizzles out

ANGELES CITY — Yesterday’s transport strike, which its organizers had wanted to cripple the entire Central Luzon, fizzled out in most areas but managed to paralyze Capas and Concepcion in Tarlac, this city and Mabalacat in Pampanga.

Despite this, Frank Mangulabnan, chairman of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Pampanga, said his group and the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) are now mapping out plans for a nationwide transport strike on April 7 to protest the rising cost of fuel and the implementation of the Clean Air Act.

The transport strike in Central Luzon failed to solicit the support of most transport groups, but in Capas, Concepcion and Mabalacat towns and this city, almost all mini-buses, jeepneys and tricycles did not ply their regular routes, stranding thousands of commuters who were caught unawares by the strike.

In San Fernando City in Pampanga, Mangulabnan said jeepney drivers plying the San Fernando-Angeles route also grounded their vehicles.

The strike in the affected areas started at 7 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m.

He said public transport leaders in Bulacan were sympathetic, but they already staged a strike last week so they did not join yesterday’s protest action.

Besides protesting the series of fuel price increases, the strikers also objected to the implementation of the Clean Air Act.

In a statement, the Alliance of Central Luzon Transport Organizations said the law "clearly serves the interest of big and foreign monopoly capitalists and their representatives in the country."

The alliance said violation of the Clean Air Act would cost drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) a minimum of P2,000 for the first offense and a maximum of P6,000 and one-year cancellation of registration for the next offense.

"The law essentially denies small operators and drivers of jeepneys and tricycles the right to earn whatever little money they could bring home to their families after a day’s work," the alliance said.

It added that the law also provides room for "other violations" that could cost the PUV driver or operator a fine of P10,000 to P100,000 with imprisonment.

The alliance alleged that large corporations are being given "tax incentives and deductions and more time" before they are required to comply with the law. — With Ric Sapnu