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PISTON girds for nationwide transport strike on Dec. 13

A national coordinated transport strike will push through on Thursday, December 13, to protest oil price increases, a group said Tuesday.

PISTON (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide) insisted that the government control oil prices. It said that the government should also stop oil price increases, remove the 12-percent EVAT on petroleum products and suspend and junk the Oil Deregulation Law.

George San Mateo, spokesman for the group made up of jeepney drivers and operators, said independent jeep, bus and tricycle groups will also join demonstrations in Metro Manila and parts of the country where route strikes and protest rallies are scheduled.

He said transport holidays have been scheduled in Baguio City, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Aklan, Roxas City, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos.

The provinces of Iloilo and Aklan, meanwhile, will hold a two-day protest on December 12-13 while Negros Occidental will implement a transport strike for two straight days starting Decemebr 13.

Strike centers, San Mateo said, will be situated at transport terminals in Alabang, Cubao, Monumento-Ever Grand Central, Kalayaan-Kamias, Philcoa, Aduana Circle in Pier-South, Taytay Public Market, Novaliches-Bayan and Pacita Complex in San Pedro, Laguna.

San Mateo said the Arroyo government and foreign oil cartel are conspiring with each other to implement price hike of petroleum products. San Mateo said the diesel is now at P39.40 per liter while gasoline is pegged at P45.77/liter.

San Mateo also criticized Malacañang’s offer of free rice, calling it a trick to stop drivers from participating in the transport strike.

He said if the government is really sincere in its offer, it should give without conditions.

“Kung nais kami bigyan ng gobyerno ng bigas ay tatanggapin namin subalit hindi dapat gawin kondisyon ang pagpapatigil sa aming isasagawang welga. Kung tutuusin ay kulang pa iyang pagaalok ng bigas sa amin kung ihahambing sa bilyong bliyong buwis na inaakyat ng mga tsuper sa gobyerno mula sa buwis na 12 percent EVAT sa petrolyo na araw araw naming binibili,” said San Mateo.

He also downplayed a statement from Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes who said that the government is responding to the drivers’ problems by apprehending “kotong” cops (police extortionists) and colorum vehicles or out-of-line passenger vehicles.

“Kahit pa matugunan nila ang problema sa kotong at colorum ay patuloy na malulugmok ang aming kabuhayan kung hindi kokontrolin ng gobyerno ang oil price hikes,” he said.

The group also doubted whether Reyes would be able to fulfill his December 15 deadline against police extortionists and colorum vehicles. They said that until now, out-of-line passenger vehicles are still plying the Commonwealth Avenue route in Quezon City and other areas in Metro Manila and in the provinces.