By JEN BAYLON

The Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD) and other local traditional transport groups are planning to stage a four-day transport strike from November 28 to December 1.

BACOD president Rudy Catedral said they convened to finalize plans for the strike which is expected to cause significant inconvenience to commuters in the city.

Catedral clarified that while they do not wish inconvenience for the public, the strike would draw attention to pressing issues regarding the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Their action aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by traditional jeepney drivers and operators.

Catedral said BACOD will conduct rallies in Barangays Magsaysay and Bata on November 29, and in front of the Bacolod City Government Center replica on November 30.

He added that their protest is not against PUVMP, but against the mandatory inclusion of traditional jeepney operators into cooperatives, which they find problematic.

He added that a potential transportation lockdown could happen if traditional jeepney drivers face apprehension due to the limited availability of modernized jeepneys.

Catedral expressed concerns about the threat that they would be arrested for failure to consolidate for PUVMP after November 30.

The upcoming strike seeks to highlight the need for dialogue between transport operators and local officials, advocating for solutions that balance transport modernization efforts./JB, WDJ