Cebu public transport 'paralyzed' by strike, says group

About 60% to 70% of public transport routes in Cebu province were paralyzed due to the nationwide transport strike amid the soaring fuel prices as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Transport group PISTON said it observed that some terminals had no parked jeepneys in the province, Super Radyo Cebu’s Gabriel Bonjoc reported on Thursday.

The group also staged protests at five locations in Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.

PISTON is calling for a fuel price rollback, the removal of the excise tax, and a fare hike.

It also condemned the Philippine National Police (PNP) for dispersing its protest, saying that it was conducted peacefully.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 11 said it did not monitor transport groups participating in the nationwide transport strike in the Davao Region.

It said the public transportation remains normal, but monitoring will continue until Friday, Super Radyo Davao’s Francis Timbal reported.

Some private schools in the region also shifted to online classes on Thursday in anticipation of the effects of the transport strike.

In dzBB’s Nimfa Arevalo’s interview, jeepney drivers Marlon and Nelson said they chose to operate amid the transport strike since they need to provide for their families.

Both jeepney drivers at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, Marlon and Nelson said they earn P1,000 a day before.

However, with the massive fuel price hikes, they now earn about P200-P300 per day.

“Gusto namin makisama kaso paano naman mga pamilya namin? Walang pangkain, wala kaming kikitain kung titigil,” Marlon said.

(We want to join, but what about our families? If we stop our operation, we have no income to buy food.)

Like other jeepney drivers, Marlon and Nelson called for a reduction in oil prices.

“Ibaba ang krudo, kasi kung taas pamasahe, mga commuter, lalo na mga anak ko college, apektado,” Nelson said.

(Lower the fuel prices. If fares go up, commuters, especially my children who are in college, will be affected.)

Earlier today, members of PISTON trooped to Welcome Rotonda in Manila to urge the government to take action as oil prices are expected to further climb in the coming weeks.

Transport strikes were also monitored in other areas such as Pasig, Bulacan, and Iloilo.

This comes a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of the implementation of fare hikes of P1 to as much as P40 peso in all public utility vehicles despite increases in oil prices.

Marcos said the fare hike was postponed because the situation calls for addressing the needs of commuters, workers, and students who rely on the transport system.

PNP said the transport strike conducted nationwide is generally peaceful, as it did not monitor any untoward incidents, dzBB's Glen Juego reported.

At least 50,000 PNP personnel were deployed across the country to maintain order during the protests.

More than 1,300 PNP vehicles continue to assist stranded commuters amid the transport strike.— Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News