Transport strike: Drivers want fare rate amended

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  —  Majority of the city’s 2,500 drivers of motorcycles-for-hire (also known as pedicabs or tricycles) on Wednesday staged a transport strike from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., protesting the city government’s imposition of a P2 fare rate reduction from P8.50 to P6.50.

The strikers, led by transport group ND Motor Piston, stopped conveying commuters, especially students and workers, who have been dependent on MCHs, the city’s main form of public conveyance.

Danny Atillo, head of the Traffic Management Office, said it was however business as usual and that there was no violent incident arising from the strike, as people scrambled to find other means of transportation.

Commuters still managed to get to their respective destinations by walking, hitching a ride with friends or relatives, riding bicycles or even paying extra for the illegal habal-habal or single motorcycle drivers who took advantage of the situation.

City Administrator William Ablong, on orders from Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, immediately deployed vehicles of the Task Force SAGARR, the Rescue 348 and multi-cabs from the barangays for a libreng sakay (free ride) for stranded passengers with pre-identified, strategic pick-up and drop-off points.

Atillo said initially only a handful of drivers took part in the protest, but their number grew as the hours passed, when non-members of the Piston were left with no choice but to stay home in solidarity with the strikers.

Other associations of MCH drivers and operators told the TMO they were forced to either take part in the protest action or stay home, as striking drivers flagged them down, told them to bring their passengers to their destinations and either join the strike or go home.

The strikers ended their protest late in the afternoon and then converged at the City Hall to attend the City Council’s regular session where they expressed their sentiments and sought redress over the fare rate reduction that they said was unfair.

Earlier, or an hour after the protest started, Sagarbarria immediately announced over the radio that he requested the City Council for a caucus to come up with a win-win solution, such as to adjust the fare rate from P6.50 to either P7.50 or P7.70. He said the P2 reduction may not be fair to the drivers.

During the emergency meeting called for by the mayor in the afternoon, an amendment to Ordinance No. 177 was proposed that would in effect repeal certain provisions of the automatic fare rate adjustment scheme to suit the clamor of the protesting drivers.

On motion of city councilor Antonio Remollo, the first reading of an amendatory ordinance, introduced by Councilor Antonio Remollo, was approved by the City Council to fast track the process in less than two weeks but has to go through a public consultation with stakeholders.

Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling had decried the action taken by the tricycle drivers in crippling the transportation in the city without informing the public. He said it was a clear violation of the rights of the public and has tainted the name of Dumaguete as the city of gentle people.

Maquiling reminded the protesting drivers that the franchise granted to them is not absolute and can be revoked by the City Council if they are proven to have violated it.

A week ago today, the City Council approved a resolution adjusting the MCH fare rate from P8.50 to P6.50 minimum and with an additional 50 centavos for every kilometer thereafter, due to the reduction in fuel prices. (FREEMAN)