PISTON president ‘Mody’ Floranda.
Reeling from the impact of huge price hikes on fuel caused by oil supply disruptions due to the Middle East crisis, jeepney drivers are set to stage a nationwide transport strike on Thursday, March 19, to prompt government action to address the situation.
Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) had earlier announced the one-day suspension of operations to protest the government’s “slow” response to rising fuel prices and the impact on drivers and commuters.
According to PISTON president Modesto ‘Mody’ Floranda, the transport strike seeks to compel the Marcos Jr. administration to remove value-added tax and excise taxes on petroleum, cap fuel prices at ₱55 per liter, and implement a ₱5 fare increase amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
But lawmakers in both the Senate and House of Representatives are only pushing to pass a bill that would grant President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. emergency powers to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes for up to six months.
However, even if the suspension is implemented, fuel prices would only be down by ₱5 to ₱10 per liter—much less than the double-digit fuel price increases registered by most petroleum companies over the past two weeks.
Public utility drivers and operators led by Floranda condemned the big-time price increases by most oil companies despite their earning billions in profit.
Meanwhile, the Lower House is considering a review or possible repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, which has allowed firms to adjust petroleum prices based on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) and their inventory.
