Mixed LGU views on Palace decision

CEBU, Philippines — A Cebu City councilor is asking Malacañang to leave to local government units the decision to cancel classes and work during transport strikes or protests.

Councilor Joy Augustus Young argued that the decision should be made by “somebody with feet on the ground” as it is the LGUs that know the real situation in their area.

“That’s the problem with Manila making all decisions…and weak local representation who cannot bring our interest to Manila,” Young said.

Yesterday’s protest action, for example, did not cripple transportation in Metro Cebu as only a handful of drivers joined the nationwide movement.

"In fact, it was hardly noticeable. At any rate, had the protest prospered, the preparations made by local and national government offices were adequate to ensure that passengers would not be stranded," said Ahmed Cuizon, regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Cebu City Transportation Office Operations chief Francisco Ouano said at least 80 percent of the public utility jeepneys plied the streets yesterday.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, the deputy mayor for peace and order, said the city even had to refuse help from private transport companies.

“Peaceful ra atong syudad sa sugbo. Wala tay nakita nga pagkaparalisar sa atong transportasyon kay gani, ang mga Ceres buses, v-hires nga ni offer motabang sa syudad sa Sugbo, atong gipapauli kay dili na kinahanglan nga ato silang padaganon,” he said.

Justified

Other officials disagreed, though.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said it was a good idea for Malacañang to cancel work and classes. For her, it is better to be preemptive rather than reactive.

"Dili ingon nga maghuwat pa ta sa after-effects...ang ato man lang pud walay ma-stranded nga tawo sa dalan. Sakto ra man sad nga gi-ingun ana. Gi-preparan man sad nato," she said.

Glenn Antigua, chief of operations of Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM), agrees with Radaza.

 "O, dako’g tabang kay mostly baya sa mga ma-stranded kini man gyud mga estudyante. Pasalamat ta nga gi-declare nga walay klase," Antigua said.

He said that had classes and work pushed through yesterday, passengers may have been stranded.

"Posible daghan ma-stranded nga pasahero. Pero karon (nga strike) normal man, walay problema," he said.

Argao Mayor Stanley Caminero also believes the decision of Malacañang was a "justified call".

He explained that he sees it as a pre-emptive measure to take than facing more complicated problems that would arise and cause inconvenience especially to the citizens in areas highly dependent of mass transportation.

Caminero shared there is a need for the national government to reevaluate their measures like the inclusion of remote areas when there are national transport strikes.

He said that in the case of towns like Argao, the transport strike had less effect.

Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale shares the same sentiment.

"It's all worth it kay wala ta nakabalo (what will happen on the day of the strike). Karon nga na-feel nga wala ra diay, maayo," she said.

Peaceful

Cebu City Police Director, Senior Supt. Joel Doria, said the participants in yesterday’s protest, about 30 of them, were easy to secure.

 At least 50 uniformed policemen, undisclosed number of covert cops and augmentation from the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM), were fielded to the streets.

Greg Perez, coordinator of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide-Cebu, said the protest was successful and peaceful

He said, nevertheless, that if government will not listen to their demand, it can expect wider protest actions in the coming months.

Cuizon still thanked PISTON-Cebu for not disturbing the flow of public transportation. (FREEMAN)