By JEN BAYLON
Members of traditional transport groups consider the Bacolod City government’s failure to approve their rally permits “undemocratic.”
In a radio interview yesterday, Rudy Catedral, president of the Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD), said the mayor’s office ignored their application to stage rallies in five protest areas in the city.
Catedral said the city government is taking away their freedom to express their concerns to the national government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
He added that more than 1,000 traditional jeepneys are operating in the city without franchises and insurance.
They held a silent protest rally at the Fountain of Justice yesterday afternoon.
Lilian Sembrano, Kabacod Negros Transport Coalition (KNETCO) president, said they will still hold peaceful protests to air their grievances even if they are not granted permits.
The transport groups opted not to proceed with their planned two-day transport strike, which was supposed to begin yesterday.
The resumption of classes in elementary, high school and college following its cancellation last week due to heavy rains and floods will be affected should the strike proceed.
Sembrano said Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez assured that he will help them continue to coexist with modernized jeepneys operating in Bacolod — one consideration for not staging a strike.
She also called for the abolition of the PTMP and the restoration of their five-year individual franchises.
They are also planning to hold a two-day transport strike this week after four transport leaders were arrested by the Bacolod City Police Office during their protest rally last week.
Authorities arrested Sembrano, Catedral, United Negros Drivers Operators Center (UNDOC) president Rodolfo Gardoce Jr.; UNDOC secretary general Eric Bendoy; as well as Melchor Omagayon and Shalemar Saliot on September 18.
BACOD, KNETCO and UNDOC submitted a letter of intent to Benitez yesterday for the renewal of their franchises, business permits and registrations./JB, WDJ