Transport strike
THE planned seven-day transport strike starts Monday, March 6, as the government intensifies its efforts to revitalize the domestic economy, which was ravaged by the COVID-19.
But the government has prepared a contingency plan to lessen the impact of the mass action on the commuters, who are mostly students and workers in the government and private sector.
This, despite the assurance that 94 percent of jeepney drivers are not joining the strike, which is to protest the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Boared (LTFRB), on the other hand, said that only six percent of the nation’s public utility vehicle drivers are expected to join strike.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil, a former journalist, said that Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel will be deployed to maintain peace in affected areas.
As in past transport strikes across the country, local government and barangay officials are also expected to ensure that no untoward incident will mar the weeklong mass action.
Last Wednesday, no less than President Marcos was reported to have said that the implementation of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program “is necessary.”
However, Marcos said the modernization program needs to be implemented in a different way.
As well-meaning Filipinos, we cannot overemphasize the importance of modernizing our public utility vehicles.
Admittedly, there are still “rolling coffins” plying the country’s highways and streets, endangering the lives of our commuters, particularly in the impoverished rural areas.
Let’s implement the government’s modernization program, but let’s also take into consideration the welfare of affected transport operators and drivers.
