7,000 drivers to join strike on Monday

CEBU, Philippines - An estimated 7,000 drivers from across Cebu province are expected to participate in the transport strike on Monday, as President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address, the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo said yesterday.

The transport strike will begin at 4:30 am and will end at 1pm, after which NADSU will join members of cause-oriented group Bayan Muna in a protest rally in Colon Street.

NADSU Chairman Roy Opura said the strike would be their way to oppose the stiffer penalty imposed by the Land Transportation Office on traffic violators.

LTO implemented the higher fines early last March, as ordered by Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

Under the new “schedule” implemented by LTO, a person caught driving while under the influence of drugs will be fined P10,000 and will face automatic revocation of his license. Those caught driving under the influence of liquor will be fined P5,000 and a two-month suspension of their license.

Those driving without license will be fined P1,500 while those with expired licenses will be fined P400. Drivers who fail to bring their licenses will be fined P200 and those caught using a fake license will be fined P2,000.

Those caught using a vehicle to commit a crime, such as robbery, will be fined P3,000 while those getting the services of an “unlicensed” conductor will be fined P200.

Opura said the new penalty rates are too burdensome to many drivers because they could not claim their licenses right away due to the exorbitant fees. The new rates are reportedly 500 percent more than the previous ones.

The other issues the drivers are rallying for are the unstable prices of oil and other petroleum products in the market, the lack of government programs for drivers, and the Expanded Value Added Tax.

Opura said the fluctuating prices of oil and other petroleum products cause uncertainty and worry on the part of drivers because they would not know when to appropriately demand for an increase in fare.

Opura contended that drivers are important citizens of the country not only because they are paying taxes, but more so because they render service to the people. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)