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Transport groups stage strike in Southern Luzon


Militant transport groups started before dawn Wednesday a transport strike in parts of Southern Luzon to protest continued fuel price hikes and rising costs of living. The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) said the strike was also a buildup activity for a "People's State of the Nation Address" they will also deliver on July 25 in time for the SONA of President Benigno Aquin III. "Ang transport strike ay may kinalaman sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, pagtaas ng toll sa SLEX at ibang bilihin. At ito ay buildup activity ng ating mga kababayan at kasama sa Southern Tagalog para sa malaking People's SONA sa July 25 kung saan nais nilang ihayag ang damdamin dahil sa one year taas-presyo ng langis walang pagbago sa sahod sa ilalim ni Pangulong Aquino," PISTON secretary general George San Mateo said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He said the strike, which started 5 a.m. and ends 5 p.m., included parts of Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, and Quezon provinces. San Mateo said they have at least 10,000 members in the Southern Luzon area. But as of 8 a.m., a report by dzBB's Denver Trinidad quoted Laguna police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz as saying public transport in Laguna was not paralyzed by the strike. In that past, San Mateo said "we have drawn massive participation from Laguna, Batangas, and parts of Quezon and Cavite." He also hinted at a possible transport strike in Metro Manila in the coming months. He did not elaborate, however. — LBG, GMA News
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