Labor, transport lead protest vs high prices

LABOR and transport groups said Wednesday they will stage nationwide protest today, Thursday, to oppose the continuing increase in oil, petroleum and commodity prices and to demand an increase in wages.

PISTON, a nationwide organization of jeepney operators and drivers, said it will launch a protest caravan in the major cities simultaneously.

PISTON and other groups said 8,000 of their members will dramatize their plight and slam Malacañang’s refusal to remove the value-added tax on oil products to bring down their prices and help the public.

The labor group Partido ng Manggagawa and the Philippine Airlines Employees Association slammed the government and insisted that the Energy Department and Malacañang protect the public from the effects of the constantly rising oil and petroleum prices.

“The government has options to mitigate the impact of the oil price movements by granting the labor groups’ petitions for a wage increase,” Partido Manggagawa chairman Gerry Rivera said.

Malacañang warned the striking transport groups they would “face the consequences” on their franchises if something untoward happened.

“We have always maintained that this is a franchise. This is a privilege, not a right,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

“You have to be responsible for your actions. If you do participate, you will face the consequences.”

Lacierda said the Armed Forces will field 30 buses to ferry commuters. The Metro Manila Development Authority will also field its vehicles to help.

“As of today, we have 26 military trucks, six buses, one tow truck and one fire truck ready for deployment,” military spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said.

PISTON president George San Mateo said transport workers will converge at 7 a.m. on Elliptical Road in Quezon City before trooping to the office of Chevron on Ayala Avenue in Makati, City where they will hold a protest rally.

He said the transport sector will call on the oil companies to roll back diesel prices by P9 and gasoline by P10. It will repeat its appeal to the government to suspend the 12-percent value-added tax on oil products and the oil deregulation law to bring down prices.

“Raising the consumers’ capacity to buy is also an option, San Mateo said. Vito Barcelo, Joyce Pangco Pañares, Florante S. Solmerin, Rio N. Araja, Manila Standard Today