Strike paralyzes Bacolod’s public transport

BACOLOD CITY — Protesting drivers and operators of public utility vehicles here and in Negros Occidental yesterday claimed to have paralyzed 85 percent of public transport but police authorities placed it at 70 percent.

The United Negros Drivers Operators Center (UNDOC) pushed through with its two-day transport strike despite the decision of Ceres Liner, which owns and operates the biggest fleet of buses that plies the major points in Negros Island, and two other Bacolod-based drivers association not to participate in the strike.

So far no untoward incident was reported to the police.

UNDOC, which is being supported by militant groups, is demanding the abolition of the Oil Deregulation Law and is calling for a P1 rate hike.

Several private schools and universities suspended classes for two days, although Catholic schools went on a one-day holiday yesterday as they celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception.