PISTON to join April 15-17 transport strike, ALTODAP opts out

Transport groups are divided over joining planned protest actions this week against high fuel prices as some organizations push for continued demonstrations while others refuse to participate.

PISTON president Mody Floranda on Tuesday said their group will join the three-day nationwide transport strike of MANIBELA from April 15 to 17, Wednesday to Friday.

“Bahagi din po tayo nu'ng magaganap na pagkilos. Sabi ko nga ay mula po ng Marso, tayo ay tuloy-tuloy na naglulunsad ng protesta. At tuloy-tuloy ang ating protesta hanggang sa lampas ng May 1,” he told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(We are also part of the action that will take place. As I said, since March we have been continuously launching protests. And our protests will continue until after May 1.)

“Hangga't hindi tinatanggal itong Oil Deregulation Law. Hangga't hindi tinatanggal ang VAT sa langis,” he added.

(Until this Oil Deregulation Law is repealed. Until the VAT on oil is repealed.)

Floranda noted that while an oil price rollback is anticipated, it would not be enough to offset previous increases in fuel costs.

PISTON demands the removal of excise taxes on petroleum products, which he said would provide more substantial relief compared to proposed fuel discounts for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

Floranda pointed out that discount schemes are often limited in availability and insufficient to address the financial burden faced by drivers.

ALTODAP

Meanwhile, ALTODAP national president Melencio “Boy” Vargas said their group will not join the planned strike, saying it would only inconvenience commuters who are not responsible for the rising fuel prices.

“Ang ALTODAP, Pasang Masda, at Busina, kami pong tatlo ay nag-usap-usap na. Hindi po kami sasama,” Vargas said in a separate interview on Dobol B TV.

(The three of us — ALTODAP, Pasang Masda, and Busina — have already talked. We will not join.)

“Dahil ako po ang tingin ko po, sino pong i-hostage na naman natin or ang pahihirapan lang po natin ay ang commuters, ang mananakay? Napakasakit naman po noon dahil unang-una, hindi naman po sila ang dahilan ng pagtaas nito,” he added.

(Because I think, who are we going to hold hostage again or are we just going to make the commuters suffer? That is heartbreaking because in the first place, they were not the reason for the increase.)

ALTODAP prefers to engage with government agencies to seek solutions, he said.

Among their proposals is a request to banks to temporarily defer loan payments of operators amid rising fuel costs. Vargas said transportation officials have committed to coordinate with banks regarding the proposal.

He also pushed for increased funding for the government’s service contracting program as the current budget may only last a short period.

Vargas suggested raising the allocation to as much as P2 billion to P5 billion to extend assistance to affected drivers for several months. —KG, GMA News