Lawmakers wants bus firms sanctioned for joining strike

Lawmakers on Monday urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to sanction or even cancel the franchise of the bus firms that participated in the strike to protest the number-coding scheme. Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development, said failure to provide the public with their service is a violation of the franchise given to bus companies. “Under the terms of their franchises, they commit to provide service to the public. So to deliberately deprive that service to the public is a violation," he said. “The main reason that you are given a franchise is because you commit to provide service. So the LTFRB should sanction them," Tiangco added. Thousands of commuters were affected by the “holiday" staged by bus firms. The Department of Education even suspended afternoon classes in private and public schools in Quezon City and San Juan due to the strike. Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said there are better ways to address the concerns of bus firms without disturbing the commuters. He added public interest should not be jeopardized in expressing their grievances against government’s policy. “I will work for the cancellation of their bus franchises. There are means to address their redress and grievances. The commuters should not suffer," said Castelo. Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo said the bus companies should give the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority(MMDA) a chance to implement the new policy. “Dapat suportahan at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang MMDA na magsagawa ng iba’t ibang schemes para makahanap ng solusyon sa trapiko. Bilyong-bilyon ang nasasayang dahil sa sama ng ating trapiko sa Maynila. Subukan muna bago magreklamo," he said. San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV" Ejercito, on the other hand, blamed the MMDA for failure to anticipate the traffic problem and provide necessary measures. He also opposed the number coding scheme of the MMDA as this would partially deprive drivers their livelihood. “The MMDA should not deprive our drivers their means of livelihood. The problem on traffic nowadays did not happen during the time of (MMDA chairman Bayani) Fernando. There is something wrong in the MMDA operations," said Ejercito. Marikina City Rep. Marcelino Teodoro said the MMDA should have done a better contingency plan with the strike. “The bus strike being held early today (Monday) was a foreseen event by the MMDA. The stranded commuters should be addressed by the temporary transportation that the government can provide. The MMDA should have an alternative plan to address the stranded commuters," said Teodoro. – VVP, GMANews.TV --