Following government subsidy announcements, transport group Piston has initiated a nationwide strike starting Thursday, demanding tax suspensions on fuel, price rollbacks, and a P5 fare hike, as drivers face massive income losses from soaring oil prices.
Building on the Department of Transportation's recent preparations for P3.5 billion in subsidies—including free bus rides and fuel aid for public utility vehicles (PUVs)—amid Middle East-driven oil price surges, transport group Piston has launched a nationwide strike starting Thursday.
Piston president Mody Floranda announced the action, citing severe income losses for drivers, even those with modernized vehicles. With diesel prices at P120 per liter, drivers using 30 liters daily lose P3,600, far outpacing the government's P5,000 cash aid, which covers less than two days.
Key demands include an executive order from President Marcos to suspend excise and value-added taxes on petroleum products, rollback fuel prices to P55 per liter, scrap the oil deregulation law, and petition the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for a provisional P5 fare increase.
The group expects 100,000 members to join, with support from progressive group Bayan, highlighting the crisis's broad impact. The Philippine National Police will aid commuters, while LTFRB and DOTr subsidies—initially focused on Metro Manila and excluding tricycles—are pending release. Jeepney drivers' AICS cash aid begins March 23, drawing criticism for regional disparities. Labor group Sentro calls for a P200 wage hike, and free rides via the P1 billion Service Contracting Program are slated for early April in urban areas.
