Jeepney strike hits Marikina

At least 2,000 jeepney drivers based in Marikina City went on strike yesterday to protest a proposed city ordinance requiring them to pay what they described as "exorbitant annual and daily fees as well as fines."

Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), said the strike was peaceful but reports showed that at least 90 percent of the city’s transport system was paralyzed with thousands of commuters left stranded.

As of presstime, local jeepney association leaders and city and police officials were holding talks at City Hall to end the transport crisis.

As early as 7 a.m. yesterday, commuters were having difficulties looking for jeepneys after drivers refused to ply their routes. Some areas were barricaded.

According to the striking jeepney drivers, who are all members of the Marikina Antipolo Paenan Operators Association, they staged the strike to object the proposed ordinance filed before the City Council. It was authored by Councilor Jaime Tiburcio Jr., who is the chairman of the committee of transportation.

According to the ordinance, all PUJs based in Marikina City caught for violations face a reprimand on the first offense and a P2,000 fine and confiscation of driver’s license if caught a second time. Under terminal regulations, P10 per unit per day shall be paid annually.

A jeepney color coding scheme is currently being implemented.

Sacramento said a second public hearing of the ordinance attended by Moreno Gabriel, president of MAPODA, and city officials, headed by Vice Mayor Mario Andres, was held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. yesterday at the Marikina City Sports Center grounds.

Gabriel warned that the strike was just a "dry run."

The drivers are hoping that Tiburcio would withdraw the ordinance because it would mean an additional burden for them, considering the high price of diesel and other oil products. "Our daily earnings has been reduced dramatically because of the frequent increase of oil products and the ordinance would mean that we would be bringing home even smaller earnings for our families," one of the striking drivers said. – Non Alquitran