ACTO to hold transport holiday on Monday amid surging fuel prices

The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) on Sunday announced that it will conduct a transport holiday on Monday, March 23, as drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) struggle to operate amid the rising prices of petroleum products.

“Talagang hindi namin kakayanin na. Kaya kami sa Lunes, magta-transport holiday kami nationwide. Hindi kami lalabas. Wala namang manggugulo. Para maiparamdam sa ating Presidente Marcos na kami talaga ay hirap na hirap na,” Libay de Luna, national president, told Super Radyo dzBB.

(We really cannot operate anymore. So on Monday, we’ll observe a nationwide transport holiday. We won’t go out, and there won’t be any disturbances. This is to show President Marcos that we are truly struggling.)

De Luna said their group is seeking to receive their fuel subsidy and assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development ((DSWD).

She also appealed to the government for help with service contracts and requested a bank moratorium for transport cooperatives struggling to pay for modern jeepney units.

Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations Inc. will also conduct a transport holiday in Iloilo City., according to a separate dzBB report.

The groups said a transport holiday is needed to prevent their organization from financial collapse.

Over 1,000 traditional and modern jeepney drivers and operators plying the public transport route in Iloilo City will participate in the transport holiday.

The group said their goal is to protect the transport sector and safeguard their livelihood.

Classes at all levels in Iloilo City are also suspended on Monday.

In response, the Iloilo City government will provide free rides for affected passengers.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) and the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) earlier announced that they will postpone their supposed transport strike on Monday.

Instead, they will meet with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), along with other transport groups, to discuss fare increases, as the agencies will begin distributing financial aid to jeepney, UV Express, and Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers.

According to an industry source, the estimated adjustments in fuel prices per liter for next week are the following:

• Diesel - P16.50 to P17.50 per liter
• Gasoline - P7.50 to P8.50 per liter

The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier announced the following fuel price adjustments for the week of March 17 to March 23:

• Diesel - P20.40 to P23.90 per liter
• Gasoline - P12.90 to P16.60 per liter
• Kerosene - P6.90 to P8.90 per liter

—RF, GMA Integrated News