Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON, or Unity of Drivers’ and Operators’ Associations Nationwide) announced its planned national transport strike starting Thursday, March 19. The strike is held to protest against the massive increases in oil prices caused by the war of aggression by the US and Israel against Iran and the Marcos regime’s incompetence in controlling oil companies that arbitrarily jack up prices.

According to the group, government assistance for drivers and operators is insufficient as diesel and gasoline prices continue to rise. The price of diesel has already gone up by more than ₱20/liter, and it is set to increase further by an additional ₱20.40 to ₱23.90 per liter on March 17. This will push diesel prices to ₱100-₱120 per liter.

PISTON president Mody Floranda in a press conference on March 16 said that diesel hitting ₱120 per liter will mean daily losses of ₱3,600 for drivers. A driver’s daily plying consumes 30 liters.

“We declare and will launch on March 19, not only in the National Capital Region but nationwide, a protest, a strike led by drivers and operators against the Bongbong Marcos administration’s incompetence, and against US aggression that inflicts suffering for the Filipino people,” he said. PISTON plans to continue the transport strike until the Marcos regime addresses their demands.

A people’s protest will accompany the strike, according to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) secretary general Raymond Palatino.

Tax removal and fare hikes

PISTON and BAYAN are calling for the immediate removal of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) and excise tax on petroleum products, as well as the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law that empowers oil companies to set prices. The government collects ₱15/liter in tax on diesel and ₱17/liter on gasoline at current prices. The government collects higher VAT as prices rise.

PISTON’s demands include a ₱5 fare increase for which they will file a petition at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The group says the government’s ₱5,000 cash aid is insufficient and will last only a few days. Drivers used to earn ₱500-₱700 from 12-18 hours of driving per day. They now only earn ₱200-₱300.

Fare hikes in buses and ships

The government had already allowed a 20% fare increase for ships sailing in the Visayas and Mindanao even before oil prices went up on March 10. It is also set to allow airline companies to increase their ticket prices.

Meanwhile, the government has allowed provincial bus companies to raise the basic fare by ₱1 and ₱0.30 per succeeding kilometer for ordinary buses and ₱0.35 per succeeding kilometer for air-conditioned buses. It also allowed special buses to increase fares by ₱0.45 per succeeding kilometer. Travel, for example, from Metro Manila to Naga City abruptly jumped to ₱1,050 from the previous ₱800.

The sudden unannounced increase shocked passengers.