Strike did not felt in Metro Manila, Barias said

Miami
May 12, 2008
Story: Strike did not felt in Metro Manila, Barias said

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief General Geary Barias said they did not monitor any untoward incident during the transport strike by Piston, May 12, 2008.

“There have been some isolated cases of metal spikes which were reported in Caloocan City and some harassment also in Navotas but on the whole these are all minor incidents and as I said earlier, these are isolated cases,” Barias said.

He even said that they did not able to arrest those who scattered the metal spikes. He added that they received reports of some harassment like forcing some drivers not to ply their routes.

“But when I talked to George San Mateo (Secretary General of Piston) last Friday, he told me that they will not going to use intimidation. Seemingly some drivers felt that there was some intimidation but these are also isolated cases,” Barias said.

Despite the claim of Piston that 80% of their members joined in the transport strike, Barias said the strike did not felt in the entire Metro Manila, “On the effect of the strike on the whole it has not been generally felt. Our libreng sakay of the PNP and other government agencies are just on standby up to this time. they have not moved because we have not received any reports of stranded passengers from the time that piston has declared the strike.”

Barias said he could not say if there are paralysis on the transportation, “I could not even say because there has been no report of any stranded passenger “

Meanwhile, PNP Chief of Public Information Office (PIO) C/Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said the situation all over the country is normal. According to him, there were only four regions reported transport interruptions, these are Region 4-A, 6, 5 and 11.

“In Camarines Sur for example, 30 % of the transport operation was paralyzed and in Albay 80% was paralyzed, in Davao only 50% percent of its transport operations was paralyzed. In other regions, such as regions 4a and 6 as well as 13 in CARAGA there were some reports of transport strike but the incidents have been very peaceful and orderly,” Bartolome said.

Bartolome added that despite of the reported paralysis, it does not mean that the public were affected because some transport groups continued on their operation.

Meanwhile, some drivers who have routes going to Pasay; Makati; and Alabang from Taguig City have joined in the transport strike, others did not.

Edwin Day-ag, 40, said, they are having strike because of the continuous increase in oil prices. “With the continuous price increase in crude oil, the more our income decreases.” His route is Pasay to Alabang.

He explained that in one day most of them only have P200 income, “This is not enough even for our food alone, because food is already expensive.” He also added that they are also renting a house so the income that they are getting is not really enough.

Jerry Ricafuente, 40, Pasay-FTI route added that sometimes they only eating sardines and noodles just to save enough money, “Just like other people we are also paying for electric bills, water, and house rentals, so the P200-300 income that we are getting is not enough for our family.”

Though these drivers are complaining about increases in the price of crude oil, they do not want to ask for an increase on their fare, but to have a rollback instead.

“It is not fair for other people because they are also spending on other things. If we will have rollback many people will benefit from it,” Richard Tabor said, his route is FTI-Makati.