Transport groups shy away from nationwide strike

MANILA, Philippines – Major transport groups across the country have ignored calls for a nationwide strike to protest the newly approved fines for traffic violations, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said yesterday.

Yesterday’s rally failed to gather steam as a majority of transport groups opted not to participate.

Assistant Transportation Secretary and LTFRB chairman Alberto Suansing said no strike was monitored in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

“The calls for a transport strike did not generate support from transports organizations,” Suansing told The STAR.

The Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (ACTO) called for a nationwide strike to protest the high cost of fines for traffic violations.

Suansing advised ACTO members to strictly observe traffic laws and regulations if they don’t want to pay fines.

National Council for Commuters Protection (NCCP) chairman Vicente Millora said the unreasonable increase of penalties for traffic violations may be questioned before the courts and stoppage of service is not proper.

Millora warned that if ACTO would continue hurting the commuters they would file economic sabotage charges, a non-bailable offense.

In Dagupan City, a majority of the passenger jeepney drivers who are members of the Alliance of United Transport Organization Province-wide (AutoPro) joined the nationwide transport strike but caused only “little incovenience” to commuters, authorities said.

“This is not for us PUJ drivers only. It’s for all drivers,” he said, adding that if this order is not suspended, “no one escapes from the deployed men of Land Transportation Office on the roads which will exhaust all means to find violation of drivers.”— Sandy Araneta, Eva Visperas, Perseus Echeminada, Charlie Lagasca, Raffy Viray