Transport groups threaten nationwide strike

MANILA, Philippines – Transport groups threatened to stage a nationwide strike to protest the alleged abuses of local government units (LGUs) against public transport drivers nationwide.

Members of the United Transport Koalisyon (1 UTAK), an umbrella group of transport organizations, plan to stage a nationwide transport strike next month to protest the abusive policies of LGUs such as the collection of higher terminal fees from drivers of passenger jeepneys and buses.

Boy Vargas, 1 UTAK national president, said the abuses include the mandatory use of terminals put up by local officials that are far from the regular terminals used by passengers.

Local officials have also increased terminal fees and many local governments are now issuing their own traffic tickets that are used to generate revenue for the city or municipal government.

“Worse, terminal fees are charged and are now being doubled for no reason whatsoever. LGUs also have developed their own traffic citation tickets without any legal basis. Traffic apprehensions are now being done as a form of revenue generation, thus tickets are issued even if the drivers are not at fault only to meet the quota,” Vargas said in a statement.

Vargas said the planned transport strike would involve passenger jeepneys and provincial buses nationwide. 

“We have aired this complaint before various government agencies including the Department of Interior and Local Government. Unfortunately, no action has yet been taken, while operators and drivers are growing restless everyday as they continue to suffer from the abuses inflicted by LGUs and LGU traffic enforcers. There is now a call for more

concrete actions to get the message across,” Vargas added.

Lawyer Vigor Mendoza II, chairman of 1 UTAK, explained that a transport sector conference will be held within two weeks to address these concerns.