Transport strike is childish
11 May, 2008 11:13 PM
Cogito Ergo Sum 
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Do you remember when you were still a child? Whenever someone takes away your candy or balloon, or someone hurts you, you cry and say “isusumbong kita sa Tatay ko1″ Sobbing, you go to your closest parent and tell them what happened.
That’s not different with tomorrow transport strike by Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide or PISTON. They are protesting the alleged ’snubbing’ of the government on their fare hike petition.
The problem with some Filipinos is they always look for a shotgun solution for its problems. The Department of Agriculture’s quick response to address the high price of rice is importation instead of increasing the production. Power rates too expensive? Why don’t we take control of Meralco? Low quality education? Let’s build a cyber-education network to get in touch with far flung school which doesn’t even have electricity or classrooms. Want to get rich instantly? Try your luck in the lottery.
Who wins in this transport strike, which, according to the news, will affect 35 areas? It’s a Monday, start of the work week for most of us. No one wants to be late at work. Passengers, definitely, will find it difficult to take the jeep to go to their destinations. Drivers, of course, will have nothing to earn, ditto with the operators. Policemen have to be on guard with the protesters.
After the transport strike, then what? Will it immediately lower down the price of petroleum products? Will the government immediately heed to the petition to raise the fare? In other words, after the driver’s hulabaloo, will it do any good?
If I head the transportation department, I’ll order buses plying the Edsa route to be deployed in those areas where there is a strike. Rides will be free and the pick up points will be the protesters’ area itself. Cameras will be installed in these areas to keep a record on how futile the protests are. Military men who were assigned in Sulu, not the police, will man the protesters. Protesters should be intimidated, the same way that they intimidate and blackmail the government and the riding public.
I came from UP and an activist by heart. I could discern who is right and why. In this case, i will not side with the protesters. The better way to solve any crisis is not by immediately going to war but facing each other and explain their sides.
