Demonstrators claim ‘passengers were stranded’

Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said yesterday’s transport strike failed to paralyze public transportation in the city as commuters managed to utilize alternatives such as taxis, tricycles, and e-tricycles, who continued operations despite various transport groups calling on them to join the demonstration.
He added, City Hall employees were able to report to work as two city buses and four IPM Construction and Development Corporation dump trucks were used to transport city employees.
According to Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Negros, one of the groups involved in yesterday’s strike, claimed passengers were left stranded as a result of their strike.
An incident notably erupted after a particular transport company in the city did not join the protest and reportedly provided free rides. Protesting transport groups responded by forcing them to stop operating and ordered passengers out of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Executive Assistant Jomarie Vargas, cluster head for the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, claimed 80 percent of the city’s public transportation was paralyzed./DGB, WDJ