Iloilo transport groups reject strike plan, citing public harm

ILOILO CITY — The Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. (WVATCCI), representing 11 transport cooperatives across the region, has firmly rejected proposals for a transport or general strike.

In a statement released Monday, the alliance argued that halting transport operations would inflict widespread harm on the public without delivering meaningful solutions to the sector's underlying problems. The group cited potential damage to commuters relying on daily transportation, disruptions to commercial activities, and negative impacts on students.

The WVATCCI's rejection underscores tensions within the transport industry over how best to address persistent challenges facing public transportation. While the alliance has not specified which issues prompted the strike calls, the transport sector in the Philippines regularly grapples with concerns ranging from operational costs and regulatory compliance to fuel prices and vehicle maintenance.

The stance taken by the 11 cooperatives suggests they favor alternative approaches to resolving sector grievances, though the alliance has not detailed what measures they consider viable in place of industrial action.