Transport strike dialogue turns to shouting match

A dialogue called by Metro police chief Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. who was seeking a peaceful and orderly staging of a transport strike set on Monday, turned into a shouting match between transport leaders.

Zenaida Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), one of the prime movers of the strike, walked out of the dialogue after engaging in a heated debate with Jessie Santos of the North East Manila Bus Operators Group (NEMBOG), which declared members would continue plying their routes on April 18.

"We did not reach our objective because of Maranan’s walkout," Razon said. "But just the same, we arrived on a agreement for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the transport strike on Monday."

The Metro police chief asked the transport groups to settle their differences elsewhere so they could come up with a common issue in their effort to bring their problems to the attention of the Arroyo government.

Apart from Maranan and Santos, other transport leaders who attended yesterday’s gathering where Claire de la Fuente, president of the Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA); Orlando Marquez of the Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance (MJODA); Boy Vargas, of the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP); Efren de Luna of the Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organization Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (PCDO-ACTO); Obet Martin, of Pasang Masda; and Mar Gavina, of Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON).

After welcoming the transport leaders at 10 a.m., Razon gave the leaders the opportunity to express their stand on the transport strike, starting with Maranan, who was seated on his right.

Maranan, Marquez, Vargas, De Luna and Gavina claimed they would push through with the strike because of escalating oil prices. Santos and Martin said they would not join the strike.

When it was Santos’ turn to speak, he called on fellow transport leaders to explain why they are joining the strike.

Santos said all the problems they are facing at present should be brought to the attention of the national government through a dialogue. He pointed out that the government has so far addressed their concerns so there was no need for a transport strike.

He also criticized transport leaders for asking for the head of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando and Chairwoman Len Bautista of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). "Dapat isyu ang ipaglaban natin at hindi personalan," he said.

Santos’ stand drew the ire of Maranan, who grabbed the microphone and made a 10-minute rebuttal.

She cited the abuses of the MMDA, including the deliberate issuance of the Metropolitan Traffic Ticket (MTT) as among the issues they are raising against Fernando.

When her speech was over, Maranan dropped the microphone and did not heed Santos appeal to hear his side. She excused herself from Razon and walked out of the NCRPO conference room in tears.

A late arrival, De La Fuente appealed for sobriety as she asked transport leaders not to quarrel in front TV cameras and reporters.

"We should not expose our dirty linen in public," she said.

Razon told the transport leaders that the 17,000-strong NCRPO policemen would be on full alert and would strive to keep the public safe and the daily business undisrupted on Monday’s transport strike.

"The NCRPO recognizes the right of the members of the transport sector to express their gripes and demands, but the exercise should be within the bounds of law," said Razon.

He said acts that would forcibly block the streets such as burning of tires, scattering of spikes would be dealt with accordingly. "I don’t think we will have any problem if the protesters would stick to whatever is lawful and democratic," he said. — Non Alquitran