The group said the decision is also in deference to a move of Malacañang to hold a dialogue with leaders of the trucking industry on Wednesday to find a workable and acceptable solution to the problem.

Col. (ret.) Roberto T. de Ocampo, president of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines (CTAP), said the group was invited to join the strike at NLEX last Friday by the Alliance of Concerned Truckers, Owners and Operators (ACTOO), United Truckers Association of the Philippines (UTAP), and Unyon ng Truckers sa Pantalan (UTP), but desisted from doing so in order not to paralyze the delivery of goods and cargoes to and from Metro Manila.

De Ocampo said, however, that CTAP is sympathizing with the strikers, adding that "whether or not we will join another strike will depend on the outcome of the Wednesday dialogue.’’

During the strike staged last Friday by ACTOO, UTAP and UTP, Transportation Undersecretary Ricardo Alfonso said the government is willing to talk to the protesters to find ways to address their grievances.

De Ocampo said that had CTAP joined the strike, the delivery of goods all over the country could have been paralyzed because the members operate nationwide.

He said CTAP has 18 truckers associations operating nationwide. But he stressed that CTAP’s future action will be guided by what is good for the country and for the industry and by what will transpire in the Wedesday meeting.

"CTAP will only join the strike as a last resort and as a matter of survival if we are completely pushed to the wall and left without any other alternative to operate our business viably,’’ De Ocampo said.

He said CTAP is optimistic that the meeting on Wednesday will be fruitful and meaningful. (E. T. Suarez)