Transport groups to hold nationwide strike this week
Metro Manila, Philippines - Transport groups Manibela and Piston will hold a nationwide strike this week to protest the alleged corruption in fuel excise tax.
Manibela said their strike will be from Sept. 17 to 19, while Piston will mount their strike on Sept. 18.
Manibela lamented that their excise tax is being used to pay for the luxury of the politicians’ children.
“Hindi na tama na kami ang nagpapalamon at pumopondo sa karangyaan nila, na samantalang ang mga masang tsuper ay halos magdamag na kung bumiyahe kumita lang nang sapat para sa kanilang pamilya,” Manibela said in a statement on Sunday, Sept. 14.
[Translation: It is not right that we feed and fund their extravagance while drivers work almost the whole day just to earn enough for their families.]
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na may ganitong mga nangyayari habang tayo ay sadlak sa kahirapan at sakunang dulot mismo ng pagnanakaw nila,” it added.
[Translation: It is unacceptable that something like this happens while we suffer from poverty and disaster brought by their robbery.]
Manibela will also join a multi-sectoral march to the Rizal Park in Manila on Sept. 21 as several groups are set to protest the government’s alleged anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects.
Piston, meanwhile, called on the government to ensure that heads will roll in the investigation into alleged corrupt practices.
“Lubog ka na nga sa utang dahil sa modernization, ninanakaw pa ang binabayad mong tax!” Piston said. “Hindi na sapat ang puro hearing at imbestigasyon. Dapat may managot! Dapat may makulong.”
[Translation: You already drown in debt to keep up with vehicle modernization, yet they steal the taxes you are paying for. Hearings and investigations are not sufficient anymore. Someone has to be held liable and jailed.]
Piston said drivers are paying almost P13,000 monthly for fuel excise tax. Those with modern vehicles even pay as much as P23,400 in taxes. Riders, meanwhile, pay P4,000 per month.
