Metro-wide transport strike set on Monday

MANILA, Philippines - A militant transport group on Sunday vowed to paralyze 80 percent of public transport in Metro Manila during their strike on Monday. “We are confident of paralyzing 80 percent of public transport in the metropolis, especially with the decision of other transport groups to join us," said George San Mateo, secretary general of the Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston). Expected to participate in the strike are Unified Transport Federation of Makati, Alliance of Concerned Truckers Operators Organization, Eastern Transport Council, Bayan Transport and other groups from Pasay, Parañaque and Marikina cities. The strike is in protest of the continuous increase in the prices of fuel products by local oil players, particularly the three largest firms Petron, Chevron and Pilipinas Shell Corporation. San Mateo said simultaneous transport stoppages would also be held in Southern Tagalog, Baguio, Panay and Guimaras islands, Davao, General Santos City, Cagayan De Oro, Legazpi and Cebu. He said they did not ask other transport groups such as the Alliance of Concerned Transport organization (ACTO) and the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) to join since they are “clearly on the side of the government." “Maliwanag na kumikiling sa pamahalaan ang mga grupong ito at sumasalamin na sa kanilang mga panuntunan at hindi na nakakabuti sa kapakanan ng mga tsuper at mananakay [It’s clear from their actions that these groups are on the side of the government]," he said. Piston claims to have 200, 000 members nationwide. - GMANews.TV