Bacolod City braces for transport strike

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City- The city government of Bacolod is bracing for a major transport strike on Sept 30, 2019 which is expected to affect commuters in the city.

City Executive Assistant Joemarie Vargas said they will deploy a city-owned bus to help government employees get to their respective work places.

Vargas said government employees living in the northern part of the city can proceed to Barangay Bata for pickup, while those in the south are directed to go to Barangay Sum-ag.

The city government will also utilize 10 trucks from garbage contractor IPM-CDC.

Vargas assured that the garbage trucks will be thoroughly cleaned for the comfort of the passengers.

The Bacolod City Police Office will also provide assistance to commuters by dispatching some of their patrol cars.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran signed an executive order on Friday suspending classes at all levels in the city on Monday.

During a meeting on Thursday with organizers of the strike, the Department of Education in Bacolod has expressed its concern that the strike will affect the students and recommended to Familiaran the suspension of classes.

The Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office also pushed for the suspension.

Earlier this week, the Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Negros (SSTONE) and Federation Bacolod City Drivers Association (Febacda), announced their intentions to join the nationwide transport strike.

In a joint statement by both transport groups, the demonstration is in protest of the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, which will be implemented on July 1, 2020.

Both groups said they strongly oppose the phase out of old PUVs, along with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) proposal to consolidate franchises.

They claimed that under the LTFRB’s plans, all transport cooperatives will ultimately be abolished and absorbed by corporations.

The groups noted that several transport cooperatives have already met a host of problems like the unavailability of spare parts.

Meanwhile, the LTFRB issued a warning to those participating in the strike saying their franchise permits will either be suspended or revoked.

The agency also claimed that the strike will “bring an unnecessary inconvenience.”