Strike fails to paralyze transport in Metro

MANILA, Philippines – The transport strike by militant groups yesterday fizzled out as authorities said it was generally peaceful and hardly felt in Metro Manila and other provinces nationwide.

The transport group (Piston), Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, however, said that the protest action was successful and had satisfactorily conveyed the people’s call for Malacañang to do something about the alleged overpricing of products by oil firms.

The Palace, however, said it would be up to proper authorities to declare whether the strike was a success or failure or whether some groups could be charged with violating their franchises.

George San Mateo, Piston secretary-general, said that while they only accomplished 70 percent paralysis of public transport in Metro Manila, they recorded a 90 percent paralysis in other regions especially in General Santos City and Butuan City in Mindanao, and in Calamba City in southern Luzon.

San Mateo also brushed off the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) assessment that the strike had minimal effects, saying it had generated enough noise for Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II to brave their rally center in Cubao to initiate a dialogue with the rallyists.

“It meant that Malacañang was not able to ignore that there was wide and deep public support for the strike and our call for the government to do something about the overprice of oil products,” he said.

The strike went through despite the pronouncement of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras during the weekend that save for one or two countries that subsidize gasoline prices, the country enjoys the cheapest oil products.

Roxas, in a statement, said he understood the position of Piston and the jeepney drivers who joined the strike. He assured public transport groups that a probe will be conducted by the government on the alleged collusion among oil firms to spike prices.

He said a task force composed of representatives from Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been formed by the government to investigate any ‘questionable collaboration’ among oil companies in setting the prices for oil products at the expense of the riding public and transport sector.

“We hear out the public and transport groups’ sentiment on the continuous oil price hike, thus the government has quickly taken concrete action to check if there is any collusion among oil firms to control oil prices in the market,” Roxas said.

San Mateo said Roxas’ dialogue with the strikers had done more harm than good since he is seen by the militant group as elitist and his pronouncement that the protest action was a “nuisance” was generally resented.

“We are not really surprised that Secretary Mar would look at our protest action that way. He cannot really understand the hardship given to a jeepney driver by a P1 or P2 increase and the consequent reduction in the money they can take home after driving long hours plying their route,” he said.

Roxas, on the other hand, said that the government respects the transport group’s right to strike and air their views, but he went there to ensure that it was peaceful.

Generally peaceful

Overall, the strike was generally peaceful in Metro Manila and commuters continued with their regular routine, except in Camanava where thousands were reported stranded in the morning.

At least 90 percent of Davao City’s transportation was paralyzed while schools and public and private offices closed down in the downtown area where protesters held a rally to press their demands.

The Manila Police District (MPD) Tactical Operation Center told The STAR that there was generally the same volume of vehicles in the roads around Manila.

Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, MPD head of the Public Information Office (PIO), said about 20 militant members of Anakpawis and the League of Filipino Students (LFS) “lied down” along España and M. De La Fuente St. in Sampaloc, Manila to dramatize their demands.

Several incidents were recorded in different parts of the metropolis but police made no arrests.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima said he received no reports of stranded passengers.

“What we received were reports of traffic jams in several areas of Metro Manila. There were sufficient vehicles who continue plying their routes,” Purisima said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the coordination between police ground units and leaders of the protesters resulted in the peaceful transport holiday.

“Except for a brief confrontation at España Blvd. in Sampaloc, Manila between a handful of student activists and members of the MPD, the overall situation in Metro Manila and other key cities in the country was generally peaceful with no significant untoward incident reported,” Cruz said.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Jaime Jacob said the transport strike was “unsuccessful” and was seen only in at least 10 percent of the areas in the country.

“It seemed normal. It’s like there was no strike,” Jacob said, adding that in the areas where the strike was felt, “there was an element of harassment” on those who did not participate.

LTFRB board member Manuel Iway said there was no participation in the strike in Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and Caraga.

He, however, said that there were reports of metal spikes scattered in Regions 4-A and 4-B, forcing some vehicles to avoid the streets.

3 oil firms reduce prices

Three oil firms announced last night a reduction in the prices of their petroleum products ranging from 20 to 50 centavos effective today.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. reduced its pump price for unleaded gasoline by 20 centavos per liter but increased the price of regular gasoline by 25 centavos per liter.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines rolled back its price for gasoline by 20 centavos per liter.

Eastern Petroleum Corp. gave the highest price rollback for its premium and regular gasoline by 50 centavos per liter.

No price adjustment on diesel and kerosene was announced yesterday.

Other oil companies are expected to implement similar reductions on their premium gasoline.

Last week, oil players reduced the price of unleaded gasoline by an average 35 centavos per liter, regular gasoline and diesel by 20 centavos, and 50 centavos for kerosene. – With reports from Jess Diaz, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Aurea Calica, Non Alquitran, Pete Laude, Aie Balagtas See, Jose Rodel Clapano, Sandy Araneta, Perseus Echeminada, Rhodina Villanueva, Reinir Padua, Edith Regalado, Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca, Roel Pareño, Dino Balabo, John Unson, Ben Serrano, Michelle Zoleta, Ted Torres, Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star)