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Drivers, operators gear up for transport protest


MANILA, Philippines - Citing the nonstop rise of fuel prices as justification, militant transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) will stage a nationwide transport holiday on Monday. In its coming May 12 transport strike, Piston will demand the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and the 12% expanded value-added (EVAT) on oil products as ways to control the surge of oil prices. In a statement, Piston Secretary-General George F. San Mateo argued that the strong balance sheets of oil companies proved they have not been losing from the rise in world oil prices and can afford to temper the rise of local fuel prices. In its end-2007 financial results, publicly listed Petron reported 6% rise in its net income to P6.4 billion in 2007 from P6.02 billion the previous year. Petron attributed its strong financial performance partly to higher domestic sales volume. "This proves that the greedy oil companies are not loosing money; instead they continue to amass earnings from transfer-pricing and over-pricing," Mr. San Mateo said in Filipino. "The drivers, operators and the public can no longer take the rising oil prices, especially with the increasing prices of basic commodities. The 12% EVAT and the Oil Deregulation Law should be repealed to see P4-P5 rollback in petroleum products and to alleviate the lives [sic] of the drivers and consumers," he added. Mr. San Mateo also said that the fuel and rice subsidy given by the government are not enough to mitigate the impact of the fuel cost on the poor. He said these are merely tactics to distract the transportation sector from the expected P6 oil price adjustment in the coming weeks. Piston will be setting up rally centers in Alabang, Muntinlupa; Monumento, Caloocan City; Novaliches-Bayan, Cubao, Kalayaan avenue corner Kamias, and the Philcoa area in Quezon City; Marikina; Taytay Market; as well as Welcome Rotonda, Pier South and Aduana Circle in Manila. There will also be strikes in Northern, Central and Southern Luzon; as well as in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Masbate in the Bicol region. There will also be a two-day transport strike in Negros Occidental beginning on Monday. Piston said the series of protest actions are not going to stop if their demands are not addressed. Edilberto Gonzaga, spokesman of Transmission-Piston in Davao City, noted that "The 12% RVAT is equivalent to P4.60 per liter...As the pump price of oil increases, the government’s profit [sic] also increases. This explains why the government is not adamant in helping the drivers and the people with the surging oil price." Bagong Alyansang Makabayan spokesman Jeppie D. Ramada said the pump prices of gasoline and diesel are now more than twice their price since Ms. Arroyo took over in January 2001, while prices of basic commodities and services grew to 38% due to the expanded value added tax. The Davao City government has already planned measures to counter the effects of the transport strike, with the Davao City Police Office and Task Force Davao fielding personnel to prevent the protest from turning violent. Davao Vice-Mayor Sara Z. Duterte said city government employees are required to report on Monday and the city government has deployed buses to the second and third districts to serve commuters. But she said these buses would charge the regular fare. Gov’t assures commuters Malacañang on Friday assured that the government is ready to provide transportation to passengers who will be affected by the transport strike on Monday. "We are prepared for these situations. We will give free rides using the trucks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Even the local governments have their own vehicles and even the MMDA [Metro Manila Development Authority] and the PNP [Philippine National Police] will help provide transportation," said Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony T. Golez. Mr. Golez urged participants of the strike not to pressure their fellow drivers to join them. "We urge those who will join the strike not to resort to violence. Let other drivers continue with their work. It would be better if they sit with the government so they can air their concerns," he said. "They have the right to hold a strike, but we prefer to settle their problems by holding dialogues." Effective 8 p.m. this Sunday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will raise its alert level to red, in anticipation of the protest action. National Capital Region Police Office chief Geary L. Barias said that buses, trucks and other utility vehicles would be made available to the commuting public on Monday. The concentration of the deployed vehicles will be in the CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) area. Mr. Barias said 2000 policemen, with another 10,000 held in reserve, would be deployed to several areas in Metro Manila to secure the areas of the strike. Mr. Barias was confident that the strike would not paralyze the transport operations. "The last time that Piston held a strike, only 40% paralysis was reported. I doubt if the paralysis on Monday [sic] would exceed that," he said in a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City. Mr. Barias said he was assured by Piston leaders that they would not force other jeepney drivers to join the strike if they did not want to. "They assured that they will not result to harassment but we would still be on the lookout," he said. "We believe the same atmosphere of peace will reign on Monday." — Marian Grace S. Ramos, JFSV and ADBR in Manila, as well as Joel B. Escovilla in Davao City, BusinessWorld
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