By Raydes B. Barcia
Legazpi City —The weeklong transport strike in Bicol failed to generate support from various transport organizations on Monday.
According to Exequiel PardinesLongares, national president of UV Express National Alliance of the Philippines Representative Bicol Transport Alliance Federation (BITRAFED) said that the UVExpress National Alliance, Bicol Intercity Transport Cooperative, Bicol JeepneyDrivers, and Operators Federation will not join the transport strike as it will affect the Bicol Region’s economy and the riding public.
Among the transport organizations who did not join the weeklong transport strike were Bicol Jeepney Drivers and Operators Federation (BITRAFED), Bicol Intercity Transport Cooperative BITCOOP, Bicol Bus Integrated Operators Association, and UV Express NationalAlliance.
But jeepney operators plyingin Sto. Domingo and Legazpi and vice versa were totally halted from operating on Monday. Though the transport strike did not totally paralyze the operation, the government, according to Cedric Daep, APSEMO chief, will provide free rides to the riding public.
Daep said that the PNP, Philippine Air Force, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, and the Provincial Engineering Office would be deploying trucks that can provide free rides to the commuters affected by the transport strike.
Thousands of drivers and operators in the country are protesting the looming phaseout of traditional jeepneys to give way to the modernization program pushed by the government. But jeepney operators opposed the modernization as it brings high costs and they cannot afford to purchase the new jeepney Police Lt. Col. Maria Luisa “Malu” Calubaquib, PNP regional spokesperson said that the PNP regional command is on heightened alert status following the weeklong strike.
She said that to deter possible eventualities following the week-long transport strike the regional command was placed under heightened alert status. PBGen.Westrimundo D. Obinque directed all unit commanders in Bicol to strictly implement the Enhanced-Managing Police Operations (E-MPO) to widen the anti-criminality operations. The regional police command conducted massive 809 checkpoints and 409 mobile patrols.
While 44 Reactionary Stand-by Support Force (RSSF) and 329 CivilDisturbance Management personnel are ready for dispatch in case of rallies or mass movements. Obinque also prepared its mobility resources to ferry stranded and affected passengers due to the strike.
As of 12:00NN on March 6, 2023, the PNP regional command spokesperson said that the transport strike in Bicol was still manageable and unhampered.“Maximum police presence in places of convergence, transport hubs, and other areas vulnerable to illegalactivities in coordination with other concerned law enforcement agencies and local government units,” Calubaquib said.