BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The public transport slowdown initially reported to last “indefinitely” will be off to a tentative start tomorrow, 15 June 2022 as two major jeepney drivers groups here decided to not join the action that aims to dramatize demands for government to act on rising fuel prices.
Transport leader Diego Malacad, however, is confident their demands will be heard by national officials as they are set to meet tomorrow with two solons – Greg Gasataya of the lone district here and Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod partylist – to discuss their demands for government to act on rising fuel prices, among them the scrapping of taxes on petroleum products.
Unlike in the 80s and 90s when Negros contributes to full transport strikes and mammoth mobilizations during protests, tomorrow’s rebranded strike will not see organizers agitating drivers and the public to protest against government.
Malacad said they are not planning to set up strike centers and participation will only be “voluntary.”
He said it is up to drivers to continue plying their routes or not though they have requested operators to “not sanction” their drivers.
