Legazpi City -- The opening day of the two day nationwide transport strike in Bicol fizzled out yesterday after militant transport group could not gather enough steam to successfully stage a transport strike, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said. Militant transport group was only able to paralyze thousands of commuters in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Norte while Camarines sur and the island provinces of Masbate, Catandunes, did not join the strike. The Concerned Drivers and Operators (CONDOR/Piston) in Bicol said 80 percent of local busses, jeepneys, trimobiles plying the routes in the Alb ay, Sorsogon and Camarines Norte joined the two-day nationwide transport strike. Condor-Bicol with 11,350 strong members, said it has mobilized majority of its members to join the nationwide strike posting a 70 percent participation in Albay; 80 percent in Sorsogon, and 90 percent in Camarines Norte. Condor-Bicol started its strike as early as 7:00AM Monday until 12:00midnight yesterday, they also have set up mass action centers in capital towns and cities across the region. The militant transport group were demanding for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, and EVat. Classes in all levels in albay, sorsogon and Camarines Norte were suspended but despite the transport strike, private and government offices across the region were open including banks, malls and other commercial establishments. Bus operation plying the Legazpi-Manila and vice versa were allowed to do their regular routes. In Albay, Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda has deployed military and government vehicles to ply the streets and provide free transportation to commuters. Navy Commodore Alberto Araojo, commander of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon based in this city said he has dispatched six units 6X6 trucks to assist commuters plying the route Legazpi Daraga and vice versa. The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol is on full alert and has set up police assistance centers to assist stranded commuters and prevent untoward incidents during the strike. No untoward incident happened, the police said.
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