ILOILO CITY – Most public transport in the provinces of Iloilo and Aklan stayed off the streets yesterday in the first day of the two-day transport strike against oil price increases.

Public jeepneys plying routes between Iloilo City and towns of Iloilo province stopped plying their routes starting midnight yesterday.

Edgar Salarda, president of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston-Iloilo), said at least 90 percent of public jeepneys in Iloilo province stayed off the streets.

The strike had lesser impact in Iloilo City where around 70 percent of public jeepneys stopped plying their routes. Several associations of taxicab and jeepney drivers and operators did not join the strike.

Stores, malls and offices remained open but few people went to these places.

The Department of Education did not issue an order suspending classes but many schools suspended their classes. The city government fielded vehicles to transport stranded passengers

In Aklan, public jeepneys, multicabs, buses and vans joined the strike severely affecting public transport in both the eastern and western routes of the province, according to Felix Sefres Jr., president of the Federation of Aklan Integrated Transport Inc.

In the capital town of Kalibo , around 70 percent of tricycles, the main mode of transportation in the town, stayed off the streets. Classes were also suspended in some schools.

The strike will continue today as part of the nationally coordinated protest actions calling for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and the removal of taxes imposed on petroleum products.

Transport groups in Capiz will also hold a strike today.*NPB

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