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Thursday, July 24, 2008
Transport strike in S. Luzon kicks off (11 a.m.)
MANILA - Drivers' group in Southern Luzon launched early morning Thursday the 14-hour region-wide transport strike.
At least 100,000 jeepney and tricycle drivers joined the strike that began 4 a.m. Thursday and will end at 6 p.m. The group is calling for the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, removal of the 12 percent value-added tax on oil and the resignation of President Arroyo
According to George San Mateo, secretary general of Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) the protest in Southern Luzon will just be the start of a series of region-wide protest culminating in a nationwide transport strike.
"Our plan is to start a series of regional protest in various parts of the country until the momentum builds towards a nationwide protest especially if the government pays no heed to our demand to lift the Value Added Tax on oil and oil products and the Oil Deregulation Law," said San Mateo.
He said the 200, 000-strong Piston and its allied groups will not stop their strikes until the government met their demand to remove the 12 percent tax on oil and scrap the deregulation law.
"We will continue to press our demand. There will be no turning back," San Mateo added.
He said drivers has been at the losing end starting this year when the prices of oil started going up due to the failure of the government to fully addressed their demand to lift the VAT on oil products and the Oil Deregulation Law.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) recently approved a fare hike that pegged the minimum fare for passenger jeeps in Metro Manila at P8. 50 from the previous P8.
But San Mateo said the fare hike is not enough for drivers to cope with the continued rise in diesel prices.(AH)
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