Daraga: The Bicol Integrated Transport Cooperative (BITCoop) continued to operate on Thursday amidst the nationwide transport strike scheduled until Friday, assuring commuters of uninterrupted transport services in the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, BITCoop issued an advisory stating that despite challenges posed by rising diesel prices, the solution lies in organized and continuous service, not in suspending operations. Drivers were reminded to follow proper dispatch and headway procedures while maintaining safe and orderly service.

The cooperative emphasized its commitment to exploring long-term solutions to fuel-related issues, including alternative energy sources and cost-efficiency measures. Rommel Esquivel, a 44-year-old BITCoop jeepney driver, expressed the necessity of working to support his family's daily needs. "I need to earn enough to buy rice and cover basic expenses. Passenger trips are slow during school days, so most of the earnings go to fuel. I only worked half a day today because I felt uncomfortable in front of my fellow drivers who joined the strike," he said in an interview.

Meanwhile, Renato Galvez, a 54-year-old jeepney driver from DACU Transco, mentioned he did not join the strike as his group had not received official instructions. "Our chairman did not send any memo. If we had received one, we would have joined," he said.

In response to the transport strike, the municipal government of Daraga and private schools suspended face-to-face classes for all levels on March 19, transitioning to synchronous or asynchronous learning modes to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

The nationwide strike was organized by some transport groups to protest rising fuel prices and the high cost of operations affecting drivers and operators across the country.