By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Region VI (LTFRB-6) will issue a show cause order (SCO) to transport operators who have participated in the strike, which managed to cripple the transport grid in Bacolod City.
An SCO demands specified parties to explain their actions in court, in this case, justifying this week’s strike.
In a report by Bombo Radyo-Bacolod yesterday, LTFRB-6 spokesperson, Atty. Jose Marie Lamparero, said they will start issuing the SCO this week and will ask operators for their reasons for why they halted services.
Lamparero explained, while the groups were protesting, the LTFRB also ordered their staff to list down who participated in the strike.
According to LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2011-004, Section 3, “An operator of a public utility vehicle (PUV) shall not resort to any cessation of service as a sign of demonstration of protest or committing acts prejudicial to the riding public like paralyzing transport services.”
It added, anyone who participated in such acts will have their transport operator’s franchise cancelled by the LTFRB.
However, Lamparero stated they will still follow the legal process, in which a hearing will be conducted and the operators involved can make an appeal.
Last Monday, members of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) and militant transport group and party-list Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) claimed success for their transport strike, which took place in Bacolod City.
According to UNDOC Secretary-General Diego Malacad, they managed to cripple around 98 percent of the city’s public transportation grid./WDJ