A noise barrage and motorcade by tricycle drivers on Monday in protest of the scrapping of the oil deregulation law was peaceful and did not hinder the flow of traffic in Dumaguete, according to city OIC police chief, Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino.
Posting placards and blowing their horns as they weaved through major thoroughfares of the city, the Negros-Dumaguete Motor Piston and its chapter, Sak-sak-Bacong-Dumaguete Drivers’ Association (SakBaDuDA) joined the nationwide transport strike to oppose the scrapping of the oil deregulation law and to seek a rollback in oil prices.
According to Tolentino, the noise barrage-caravan ended within an hour after the protesting tricycle drivers drove their units through busy streets, although traffic was not stalled.
Business was brisk as usual and students and employees of private and government offices reported for the day with no problems in riding a tricycle, the main form of public transport in this capital city.
Some tricycle drivers opted not to participate in the activity, saying they could not afford to lose a day’s income as they have families to feed.
Eddie Lazaro, who heads the Negros-Dumaguete Piston with 115 members, told a local TV network that while they wanted to participate in the Tigil Pasada of their mother unit, Piston, this was not a practical idea considering the loss of income incurred if they stopped ferrying passengers for a day.
Tricycle drivers are saying that their daily income has been greatly affected by the soaring prices of gasoline and consumers are also bearing the brunt as fare rates continue to rise alongside an increase in the prices of fuel.
They, however, said they are supporting the nationwide protest that is calling on the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to act on the fuel-related problems of the country. (PNA /JFP)