MANIBELA to hold transport strike on July 22-23

Transport group MANIBELA announced on Tuesday that it will hold a transport strike on July 22 to 23 amid the latest round of oil price hikes.

In a press conference, MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena said the strike could possibly be extended until Friday, July 24.

The group is calling on the Department of Energy (DOE) to hold oil companies accountable for the "baseless" rising fuel prices.

"Hindi na maaaring manahimik ang transport sector habang tila pinababayaan tayo ng pamahalaan, partikular ng ng Department of Energy, ang sunod-sunod na oil price hike na nagpapalubog sa kabuhayan ng mga tsuper, ng mga mahihirap, at mga ordinaryong Pilipino," said Valbuena.

(The transport sector can no longer remain silent while it seems the government—particularly the Department of Energy—is neglecting us amid consecutive oil price hikes that are sinking the livelihoods of drivers, the poor, and ordinary Filipinos.)

"Sa halip na mahigpit na bantayan at papanagutin ang mga oil companies, nagiging kuntento na lamang ang Department of Energy kung ano ang idikta nito na presyo sa merkado. Humihingi tayo ng pagpapaliwanag sa bawat taas ng presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo, pero tila nagiging abogado ng mga oil companies itong si Sharon Garin ng Department of Energy," he added.

(Instead of strictly monitoring and holding oil companies accountable, the Department of Energy seems content with whatever prices they dictate in the market. We are demanding an explanation for every price increase of petroleum products, but it seems Sharon Garin of the Department of Energy is acting like a lawyer for the oil companies.)

MANIBELA and other transport groups earlier sought for a P2 fare hike amid the higher cost of fuel products.

Pump prices of petroleum products hiked anew this week, as retailers announced another round of price increases following the re-escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East.

According to the DOE, the maximum permitted price adjustments for the week starting Tuesday, July 21, are as follows:

• Gasoline: Up to P3.65 per liter
• Diesel: Up to P10.68 per liter
• Kerosene: Up to P11.77 per liter

GMA News Online reached out to Garin for comment. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA News