Western Visayas groups shun transport strike
ILOILO CITY — Transport cooperatives in Western Visayas announced that they are continuing their operations for both modernized and traditional jeepneys in the province and city of Iloilo, including several members in Guimaras, Antique and Aklan, amid the pronounced three-day nationwide transport strike which started Monday.
Western Visayas Transport Cooperative president Raymundo Parcon said that 100 percent of their members continue their operations although those plying from Mohon terminal in Arevalo district for passengers coming from southern Iloilo received “threat” from unconsolidated groups.
“We already sought assistance from the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office to send their personnel there,” said Parcon in an interview, adding that they are prepared to augment in case there is a need for more units to ensure there are no stranded passengers.
“Even unconsolidated traditional jeepneys decided to operate because that is their source of livelihood,” Parcon said.
The WVTC has 65 modernized buses and over 100 consolidated traditional jeepneys plying from terminals in Mohon and Tagbak in Iloilo City and Ungka in adjacent Pavia town.
It also has members from municipalities of Miagao, San Joaquin, Dingle and Dumangas in Iloilo; Kalibo, Aklan; and Antique, all rendering normal operations.
“Our commuters don’t have to worry because our units are on full deployment until the evening. We are just asking our city government and police for security deployment so we will not encounter problems during our operations,” Parcon said.
Meantime, Metro Iloilo Transport Service Cooperatives board chairperson Josemarie delos Reyes disclosed that their operations are in full swing and so far have not received any negative feedback, including from their first town members.
“I have 237 modernized units and over 200 units of traditional jeepneys,” he said.
MITSCOOP serves routes fromTagbak terminal, Ungka-Iloilo Terminal Group Services Inc., and Bito-on, all in Jaro district; Bo. Obrero in Lapuz, La Paz-Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U), and Hibao-an in Mandurriao, all in Iloilo City and from Ungka Pavia, San Miguel, Leganes, and Oton towns in Iloilo province.
“The operators of traditional jeepneys will not join the strike, but if their drivers opt not to work, they can do nothing about it. Anytime, I can ask for a special permit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to augment units to cater to stranded passengers. So far, I have not received a report of stranded commuters,” said Delos Reyes.
He added that he has more than 60 standby units at the Tagbak terminal, although their probational authority is in the process but is ready for deployment.
“Even the local government can ask me if there are problems. Even if they declare a three-day strike, I can augment even 10 units per route, it cannot affect our commuters. If ever we can act on that scenario,” he said.