• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Unconsolidated traditional jeepney drivers and operators staged a two-day transport strike in Bacolod City, which started yesterday with a caravan from different rally centers in Bacolod City and converged at the Bacolod City Government Center, where they stayed overnight to show their vehement opposition to the mandatory consolidation scheme.
Eric Bendoy, secretary general of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC)-Piston Negros, said they were joined by KNETCO and the Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD)-Manibela from four different rally centers along Burgos-Lopez Jaena, Libertad (BPI), Magsaysay Flyover in Singcang, and Bata Flyover, in supporting the national transport group’s opposition against the phase out of traditional jeepneys.
Bendoy said they are calling on the government to review the PUV Modernization Program so it will not result in more serious problems. He believes this will result in massive hunger if drivers lose their livelihood and this will also affect the education of their children, especially those who are being sent to private schools.
“We are fighting for our livelihood and in order for our children to be able to graduate from college,” he said.
The government is claiming that about 50 percent of traditional jeepneys in Bacolod are consolidated. “But everytime we hold transport strikes, a huge volume of public utility vehicles (PUVs) stop operating. So they believe that they have paralyzed about 80 percent of the public transport during their protest yesterday,” Bendoy said.
He said they are calling on Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to consider the plight of traditional jeepneys who did not consolidate and be able to find a solution to the problem. They are also appealing to the mayor not to be one-sided, in favor of modernized jeepneys, so no one will be left behind.
Bendoy said they reiterated their appeal to the mayor to call for a public consultation involving all transport associations to be represented by their respective leaders in order for a real solution to be reached.*
