FYI.
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 yesterday warned drivers and leaders of Nagkahiusang Drivers sa Sugbo (Nadsu) that they will be penalized if they will hold a transport strike in Metro Cebu today.
LTFRB 7 Director Romulo Bernardes said that in the last Nadsu-initiated transport strike, the franchises of seven jeepney operators were suspended and six other operators are still under investigation.
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Bernardes said that LTFRB Chairman Alberto Suansing told him that they may cancel the franchises of jeepney operators whose units will not ply their routes during a strike.
“We mean business this time, and I urge Nadsu leaders and drivers to refrain from engaging in violence, like harassing the jeepney drivers who will not join a transport strike,” Bernardes said.
LTO 7 Director Raul Aguilos, for his part, said that they will work together with the LTFRB to monitor operators and drivers who will violate traffic and franchise rules.
“Joining a strike per se is not punishable under our existing traffic laws because that is their constitutional right.
However, if they use force and violence to compel others to join or block the streets using their vehicles, they may be arrested or their franchise may be revoked or suspended by LTFRB,” Aguilos said.
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Government is ready for today’s transport strike.
City Councilor Gerardo Carillo gave this assurance yesterday after meeting with members of the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) to prepare for the protesting drivers.
Carillo, the CDCC action officer, said command stations will be set up at Vice Mayor Michael Rama’s office in the community police action center (Compact) office at the Plaza Sugbu outside City Hall.
“We’re ready. Vehicles will be deployed. Deployment will be at the City Hall grounds, and we will be monitoring the routes,” Carillo said.
Aside from Cebu City multicabs and Kaohsiung buses, barangay vehicles will also be made available.
Carillo said the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) will be posting personnel in chokepoints and key areas to determine the affected routes.
City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, City Council committee on transportation chairman, said he has already coordinated with the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO) for the police to protect the non-participating drivers.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 27, 2009.