Tuesday, November 27, 2007 'No transport strike this November' By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.
JESSIE Ortega, Secretary-General of the United Negros Drivers Center (Undoc-Piston) denied Sunday reports that they will be holding a protest caravan and a noise barrage at the Bacolod City Plaza Monday to dramatize their planned transport strike.
Ortega clarified that reports that came out it the national dailies that they will be initiating protest action Monday were not true.
"We don't have any protest action or strike today (Monday) but in Manila, the Piston have," Ortega explained, adding, "But we are preparing for a nationwide transport strike this December," he added.
Meanwhile, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) will begin Monday a series of protest marches, noise barrage and selective route strikes in preparation in preparation for a general strike next month.
This is following the successive fuel price hikes.
Protesters in Manila will march from the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City to Mendiola, the street leading to Malacanang to dramatize their three demands:
* that government restrict the oil price hikes,
* scrap the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on oil products, and
* suspend the Oil Deregulation Law.
Piston secretary-general George San Mateo said protest actions will be initiated in various regional centers although the Bicol region strike to be led by the Concerned Drivers at Operators for Reforms (Condor-Piston-Bicol) was cancelled due to the stormy weather.
He said the Southern Tagalog Transport Sector Organization for Reforms (Starter-Piston) would push through with its strike on selected routes in Laguna and Batangas.
On the other hand, the Piston-Metro Baguio chapter will stage a rally and noise barrage at People's Park while in Cebu, there will be pickets by the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu (Nadsu-Piston) in front of oil depots and government offices.
In Iloilo, there will be a rally and noise barrage by Piston-Iloilo at the City Plaza.
