• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Transport groups have called off the second day of their strike in Bacolod, allowing regular public utility vehicle operations to resume across the city today, Sept. 30.
Lilian Sembrano, leader of the Kabacod Negros Transport Organization (KENTCO), said during the protest Sept. 29 that only lasted until noon, that driver groups decided to cancel the scheduled Wednesday leg of their two-day strike.
“Our members already have that tariff, and we sincerely apologize to our members. We will not demote the alms given by the government, but we are not happy because what we want is if (fares) are increased, the wages of our workers should also be increased,” Sembrano said.
She estimated that 90 percent of public transportation in Bacolod was paralyzed during the Sep. 29 protest that gathered around 300 drivers and operators.
Members of KNETCO and the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center, both under the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) originally planned to stage a two-day protest, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Bata and Magsaysay flyovers.
Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros, which also joined the protest, reiterated its call to repeal the Downstream Oil Deregulation law and the TRAIN law, which institutes excise taxes on oil and petroleum products, and the VAT.
“Since the enactment of the Oil Deregulation law and the TRAIN law, we have been at the mercy of profit-hungry oil companies. This year alone, the price increased by 97 percent compared to last year. Yet, not one of the Negrense legislators hears the call or, if not, remains deaf to the call,” spokesperson Noli Rosales said.
The group also supports the call for a legislated wage increase of P1,200 that the united labor has long been demanding.
“Surely, the fare rate increase would result in an increase in the prices of basic commodities,” Rosales added. | TMD
