Jeep drivers warn of more strikes

Unfazed by the threat of having their franchises canceled, transport groups warned yesterday of more crippling strikes until their demands for a fare increase and a rollback in diesel prices are met.

But Malacañang is still not backing down.

President Arroyo took a hard line yesterday, declaring the government would not be intimidated by new threats from transport groups to launch another strike on March 8.

"We will not bend to pressure or be cowed by threats. There is no reason at all to resort to threats and mass actions," the President said after a Cabinet meeting at Malacañang that also tackled Monday’s strike, which protesters said paralyzed 90 percent of transportation services in parts of Metro Manila as well as key areas in 17 out of 79 provinces.

The militant Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) lashed at the government for threatening to cancel the franchises and licenses of jeepney operators and drivers who joined the strike.

At a press conference in Quezon City, Piston president Mar Garvida invoked their right to assembly, saying their protest actions are protected by the Bill of Rights under the Constitution. The 200,000-strong Piston was one of the organizers of the nationwide "Tigil Pasada" last Monday.

"The President has no concern for us. We hope she would

listen to our requests," he said. "We will continue holding strikes and it will now depend on the government’s reaction. It is better for us to continue fighting than slowly be killed (by the continuous increase in oil prices)."

Garvida, however, said Piston is not inclined to join the next transport strike slated March 8 because it coincides with the celebration of International Women’s Day.

"We will try to talk to our colleagues and convince them to hold the strike on another day, otherwise the issues affecting the transport sector will not be given focus," Garvida said.

But he said Piston can easily mobilize their 200,000 members nationwide to join the March 8 strike if their help will be needed. The strike will be spearheaded by the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap).

Emerging after the Cabinet meeting, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the franchises of five public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators were suspended for 30 days for joining the strike.

At a press briefing at the Palace, Mendoza, along with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Ma. Elena Bautista, said they are giving the respondents the opportunity to explain why their franchise should not be permanently canceled.

Mendoza did not name the five suspended jeepney operators.

"The five (PUJ units) were just the initial number. But we assure them they will be given due process following the rule of law," Mendoza said. He denied the suspension meant to deter future jeepney strike plans.

The President virtually declared war against protesting transport groups for pushing through with the one-day strike.

"Dialogue and lawful processes to determine the reasonability of fare hikes will continue but the transport groups must not preempt the law or unduly prejudice the welfare of commuters," the President stressed.

Garvida claimed last Monday’s strike paralyzed 90 percent of public transportation in Metro Manila; 100 percent in Baguio City; 90 percent in Laguna, Quezon, Bulacan, Cebu and Negros Occidental; and 95 percent in Tarlac, Naga City and Sorsogon.

In Metro Manila, hardest hit by the strike were jeepney routes in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) area, Cubao in Quezon City and Monumento in Caloocan City.

Mrs. Arroyo has ordered the LTFRB to cancel the franchises of jeepney operators who joined the strike.

"Is this how the government responds to our legitimate grievances? What they intend to do is a violation of the Bill of the Rights. We have our right to assemble and air our grievances," Garvida said.

"Piston is not afraid to challenge the threat of the LTFRB," he said, noting they are ready to face the government in court.

Bautista said a cancellation of a franchise would mean a six-month suspension of transport operations.

Garvida however doubted that the LTFRB could immediately identify the jeepney operators and drivers who took part in Monday’s strike.

"Suntok sa buwan ito (This is like punching the moon). Kailangang i-identify nila lahat ang sumali bago nila tatanggalin ang mga lisensya at prangkisa (They have to identify all those who participated in the strike before they could cancel their franchises and licenses)," he said.

The LTFRB will be using photographs and video images of the strikers taken during the day-long "Tigil Pasada" as basis for the cancellation of their franchises and licenses.

Manhandling

Meanwhile, Piston said it is poised to file charges against members and officers of the Central Police District’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team for the alleged rough treatment on the drivers arrested in Quezon City during the strike.

Piston accused SWAT elements of mauling some of their members while also dismantling rally centers in Novaliches, Kamias and at the Welcome Rotonda.

At least 26 Piston members were arrested by police at the height of the day-long strike, Piston said. Nine were later released without charges, 13 were charged but managed to post bail, while four others remain in detention.

Garvida said the arrested protesters were charged by the police with illegal assembly, coercion, unjust vexation and resisting arrest.

Drivers who continued to ply their usual route during the strike complained of harassment from the protesters, some of whom pelted their vehicles with stones.

The LTFRB said jeepney operators would automatically be meted a 30-day suspension if it will be proven that their drivers harassed or intimidated drivers who did not join the strike.

Various jeepney drivers and operators’ associations nationwide petitioned the LTFRB for a fare hike last year, but the LTFRB has yet to grant their request.

Mendoza urged the petitioning groups to have patience and wait until the set public hearing on Mar. 16.

"It’s a process and then there will be a decision," he said.

Garvida however called on the government to recognize the urgency of a fare hike. He cited the price of diesel has increased from P12.62 per liter in March 2002 to P18.00 last month without increasing the minimum jeepney fare.

"The P1 fare increase would just be enough to recoup their lost income caused by the hike in diesel prices," Garvida said.

It would be more ideal, he said, to have oil prices rolled back to P12.62 per liter without removing government subsidy on fuel and jeepney spare parts.

Garvida complained that the LTFRB is dragging its feet on their fare hike petition.

According to Medardo Roda, Piston chairman emeritus, their group filed a petition for the approval of a P1 hike in jeepney fare on Oct. 17, 2002. The petition was denied by the LTFRB last July 15, Roda said.

Piston then filed a motion for reconsideration on July 25 but the motion is still being heard until now by the LTFRB, he said.

"We no longer trust the LTFRB. The LTFRB is anti-driver and anti-(jeepney) operator. All these so-called hearings (on fare hike petition) are just for show," Roda lamented.

Offhand, Mendoza admitted the government frowns upon any fare hike at this time because of its "domino effect" that will push up the prices of other goods and services.

Mendoza said the government will not dangle a possible grant of the fare hike petition just to stop the threat of further transport strikes.

"The problem is you cannot just hold hostage the government. The interest of the government is really the interest of the riding public," he said.

In Metro Manila alone, Mendoza cited the 2.4 million commuters daily to underscore the greater number of people who would be affected by the minority group of Piston strikers.

Mendoza, however, admitted mass transport systems provided by the government like the Light Rail Transit, Metro Rail Transit and the Philippine National Railways can only serve the transport needs of one million commuters.

The balance of 1.4 million commuters rely on public utility vehicles.

There are about 200,000 franchised PUJs serving Metro Manila routes, Mendoza said.