PUV drivers, operators start 3-day transport strike

Transport groups on Wednesday began their three-day strike to express their sentiments against the high cost of fuel and the government's service contracting program and fuel subsidy.

At a gas station near PHILCOA on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators belonging to the transport group MANIBELA staged a protest action early Wednesday morning, according to GMA News reporter Jhomer Apresto.

MANIBELA members said they are letting the government know that the service contracting program and the P10 per liter fuel subsidy are not enough to help them cope with the fuel costs.

It would have been easier if the funds for the service contracting program would be used to add to the funds for fuel subsidy so more drivers would benefit, they said.

MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena said current government measures are insufficient and too slow to address the crisis affecting drivers and operators.

Valbuena criticized the delayed implementation of the suspension of excise tax and value added tax (TAX), particularly in diesel and gasoline which are primarily used by PUVs.

“Ganoon kagulang ang pagbubuwis sa taumbayan. Ganoon kasakim ang pamahalaan na kinukuha nila ang lahat ng kita ng mamamayang Pilipino,” he said.

Several transport leaders warned that many drivers have already stopped operating due to financial losses, with more expected to follow if fuel prices continue to increase.

Truck Drivers' Philippines founder June Magno said their sector’s diesel expenses now account for about 40% of their operating costs. 

Around 20% to 30% of truckers have already halted operations, raising concerns over potential disruptions in the delivery of food and essential goods, according to him.

“Ang mga truck po nila ay ini-schedule na lang nila. Hindi na po lahat tumatakbo at tumatawag na lang sila ng on-call para sa mga driver,” Magno said.

“Kulang na ang driver, hindi pa rin sila makabiyahe, walang kita. Iyan po ang masaklap na dinadaanan ng trucking industry,” he added.

The groups also raised concerns over the government’s service contracting program, citing the lack of clear guidelines and limited coverage. 

Valbuena alleged that there were attempts to weaken participation in protest actions, claiming that some local officials supposedly offered incentives to discourage drivers from the strikes.

Meanwhile, the groups said their protest actions are not intended to inconvenience commuters but to push for measures that would benefit the public by lowering fuel costs and stabilizing prices of basic goods.

Commuters were seen having a hard time getting a ride at PHILCOA due to the strike, according to Super Radyo dzBB reporter Mark Makalalad.

The service contracting program (SCP) for PUV drivers and operators started today, Wednesday and will run for two weeks.

Under the SCP, the government will subsidize drivers of traditional jeepneys, modern jeepneys, and buses to give them additional income.

According to the Department of Transportation, the contracted drivers will ply 828 high-density routes nationwide, of which 545 were in Metro Manila.

The program will also subsidize bus operators and drivers for P100 per kilometer, benefitting 50 operators, 500 bus units, and 300,000 daily passengers using the EDSA Busway alone.

For jeepneys, modern units will be paid P40 per kilometer, while traditional units will be given P30 per kilometer.

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday also announced a P10-per-liter fuel subsidy for PUVs to ease the burden of drivers and operators amid the fuel price increases caused by the crisis in the Middle East.

Aside from MANIBELA, transport group PISTON said it would join the three-day transport strike starting Wednesday.

“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 on Tuesday.

(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. —Joviland Rita/KG/AOL, GMA News