The National Confederation of Transportworkers’ Union (NCTU) stage a nationwide simultaneous transport action, from motorcade rally, recoreda, picketing of LTO office and transport strikes, and slams DOTC and the LTO for imposing exorbitant fines and penalties.
“DOTC Department Order 2008-39 is patently illegal,” Dodong Petalcorin, National Treasurer of the NCTU, said. “Congress must rescind it immediately,” he added.
Petalcorin explained that the DOTC erred when they used EO 197 and EO 218 as a basis in imposing additional exorbitant fines and penalties. “The DOTC has no power to determine the appropriateness of fines and penalties to be imposed for violations of traffic rules and regulations in view of its severity and the national scope of its application,” Petalcorin said. “This is a matter that is entirely up to Congress itself,” he stressed.
Ernesto Cruz, NCTU National Chairman, welcomed the action of the House Committee on Transportation, headed by Rep. Monico O. Puentevella of Bacolod City, to call for a suspension of the implementation of DO 2008-39 after the officials of the LTO failed to justify its legal basis.
“While the suspension of the order would provide a temporary relief to transport workers, DO 2008-39 would continue to be a threat hanging over our heads unless it is rescinded,” Cruz said.
“This will only be the first of a series of transport strikes and mass actions that the NCTU intend to conduct unless government finally listens and act favorably to their demand,” Petalcorin said.
Ernie Cruz is also the local president of Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator sa Starmall, Edsa, Crossing at Kalentong Annex (STOMECKA) in Mandaluyong while Dodong Petalcorin is also the local president of Network of Transport Organization (NETO) based in Davao.
The Nationwide actions is simultaneously conducted at the National Capital Region, Cebu, Iloilo Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Cotabato, and General Santos.
The National Confederation of Transportworkers Union (NCTU) is a national organization of drivers and other transport workers affiliated with the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL). NCTU is also affiliated to the International Transportworkers Federation (ITF).
Alliance of Progressive Labor APL 