BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Two old jeepney groups here are stayung awaybfrom plans to join a one-week transport strike in Metro Manila and are staying away from plans to hold local counterpart actions simultaneous with the 6 to 12 March 2023 action of the Manibela federation, a key officer of one of the local groups said.
Albert Villanueva, secretary general of the Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Negros (SSTON) told DNX they and the Federation of Bacolod Drivers Association (FEBACDA) said they will only follow the orders from the local government here.
Villanueva added the situation in Manila is different from that of here and Mayor Albee Benitez had always been supportive of them.
He added that they are actually hastening the process to get their provisional authority certificates for them to ply the streets legally.
Diego Malacad, chairman of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) told DNX today their group will be joining the call for a strike.
Malacad, who is also a modernization program critic said they will be having discussions with some sectors this week to finalize the strike as he added they will be waiting for the counter statement of the Bacolod government on this matter.
