Metro Manila, Philippines – Transport group PISTON on Monday announced another round of strike on March 26 and 27 to press the government on concrete plans to mitigate the impact of high fuel prices.
Group president Mody Floranda said the protest will again begin from Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City and participants will end at Mendiola Arch in Manila.
“Para igiit natin sa administrasyon na ‘ano na?’ ano na ang ginagawa ng gobyerno dito patuloy na pagtaas na presyo ng petrolyo,” he said.
[Translation: We need to ask the government what it is doing amid soaring fuel prices.]
The No to Oil Price Hike Coalition, composed of the transport sector and commuters, had six demands.
It reiterated the need to abolish the value-added and excise taxes on fuel, bring back fuel prices to ₱55 (the current price had doubled), and abolish the oil deregulation law.
The group also called for the implementation of the fare hike for all modes of transport, which President Bongbong Marcos had suspended.
It also demanded a ₱1,200 family living wage.
“Isabansa ang industriya ng langis, kagyat, ang gobyerno ang humiling ng krudo at ibenta ito sa mababang halaga,” Floranda added.
[Translation: We need to nationalize the oil industry and urgently call on the government to buy and sell oil at a lower price.]
“One time small time – hindi ito sasapat sa tindi ng impact nung gyerang inilunsad ng US at Israel sa Iran, sa mga tatamaang mamamayan,” said Don Pangan, secretary general of transport group KAGULONG.
[Translation: The financial aid is ‘one time, small time’; it will not be enough to address the impact of the US-Israel and Iran wars on citizens.]
