Gabriela amplifies support for week-long transport strike
National alliance of women Gabriela insisted on Sunday, March 5, that the conduct of a week-long transport strike is necessary to fight the impending jeepney phaseout.
In a press statement, Gabriela Secretary-General Clarice Palce said the looming jeepney phase out will neither benefit nor alleviate the burden of drivers and operators.
“Makatarungan ang transport strike. [Ito ay] upang labanan ang phaseout na ang nakikinabang lang ay mga negosyante at dayuhan, hindi ang mga drayber natin (The transport strike is fair and necessary. This is to fight against the looming phaseout that will only benefit businessmen and foreigners, not our drivers),” said Palce.
Apart from jeepney drivers and operators, Palce stressed that the many children will find it difficult to go to school if the livelihood of their parents is taken away.
“[M]ahihirapan [silang] makapag-aral pag tinanggalan ng kabuhayan at binaon sa utang ang magulang nila dahil sa jeepney phaseout (They will find it difficult to study if the livelihood of their parents is taken away or if they are buried in debt because of the jeepney phaseout),” she added.
The week-long “Tigil Pasada” against the national government’s PUV Modernization Program will commence on March 6 and end on March 12.
Gabriela earlier announced that they will further support and amplify their calls against jeepney phaseout on March 8 – in time for the celebration of International Women’s Day.