Capitol braces for transport strike

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday that the provincial government is preparing after a local transport group in the province declared that they would go on strike to protest the skyrocketing price of fuel products.

Lacson said he is concerned over the effect of the strike, especially to capitol employees.

The governor also said they have not sat down with other officials from the provincial government to discuss the strike.

“But we are already eyeing options in order to lessen the impact on the capitol’s operations. Maybe we have to do some carpooling so that they can still go to work,” he said.

Earlier, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) Secretary-general Diego Malacad said they are planning to go on a five-day strike by the end of March.

UNDOC aired two demands to the national government so it won’t push through with the strike – defer the full implementation of the 12-percent value added tax on fuel and suspension of the excise tax also on fuel.

The group is also calling on the city government of Bacolod to recall its endorsement of the transport modernization program.