Semdoc says 3-day nationwide strike on SONA disrupts drivers’ earnings
THE TRANSPORT group Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Operators Cooperative (Semdoc) begged off from participating in the three-day nationwide strike during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.
Semdoc president Manuel Duran told TIMES in an interview on Friday that participating in the transport strike would be a big loss to their members.
Duran said that while arriving at their final decision was difficult, they needed to weigh all factors, including the impact to the earnings of drivers and operators.
“Wala pa mi nadawat nga opisyal nga komunikasyon gikan sa Manila counterparts pero wala pa mi plano musalmot gumikan ma sakripisyo ang panginabuhian sa mga drivers ug panakayan sa Dabawenyos (We haven’t received communication from our Manila counterparts but we never planned to participate because it would mean sacrificing the livelihood of our drivers and inconveniencing commuters),” he said.
Earlier, some transport groups have committed to join the nationwide strike on July 24-26, primarily to protest the government’s franchising policies and the transport modernization plan.
In a press conference, the Manibela group, and other organizations will schedule their transport strike on the very day of President Bongbong Marcos’ SONA on July 24.
Manibela national president Mar Valbuena called for the resignation of Transportation Sec. Jaime Bautista and Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board chairperson Teofilo Guadiz.
