DAVAO CITY—At least 20 percent of the 7,199 jeepney drivers in Davao did not join the nationwide transport strike in Davao City on Monday, which was described as generally peaceful.
This was reported by City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Chief Dionisio Abude, who was City Hall’s focal person on the transport strike.
“As per assessment, more or less 20 percent public-utility jeepney [PUJ] did not join the strike,” Abude said.
For Davao region, the Transmission–Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) reported that 90 percent of the 16,000 public-utility vehicles (PUVs) ply within the city and inter-city (Digos, Davao del Sur and Panabo and Tagum in Davao del Norte) had crippled public transport.
Transmission-Piston Chairman Charito Junares confirmed that not all of the 90 percent who joined the transport strike totally stopped plying their routes, especially in Davao City.
He said many of them have to ply their routes at least two to three rounds to earn for the day’s food need. A driver earns at least P500 per day.
Despite lesser jeepneys, commuters, especially the private-sector workers and vendors, traveled to downtown Davao utilizing the bus ride provided by the city government.
In fact, commuters were happy. Inside the bus from Mintal bound for the downtown area, a male in mid-40s commented, “I wish it’s transport strike always so we can have free rides.”
Buses were full. One bus from Calinan was full of passengers, mostly workers, farmers, vendors and a family, when it reached mid-way of the Davao-Bukidnon highway.
The City Hall deployed 36 public-utility buses from Bachelor Bus Co. with 12 units; Metro Shuttle, twelve, Mindanao Star, 10 and LCL, with two to serve major areas in Davao.
Abude said buses were available in Toril, Calinan, Maa, Catalunan Grande, Lasang via Sasa and R. Castillo; Lasang via Catitipan in Buhangin; and Agdao via CM Recto.