Piston protest on Monday
PISTON-Cebu chairman Greg Perez said yesterday that they will hold a half-day protest which will be participated in by their driver-members and some cause-oriented groups like the women and urban poor sectors. File
CEBU, Philippines — Members of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) Cebu Chapter will join their counterpart in Manila in their transport protest on Monday.
PISTON-Cebu chairman Greg Perez said yesterday that they will hold a half-day protest which will be participated in by their driver-members and some cause-oriented groups like the women and urban poor sectors.
Perez said that they will assemble at a certain place and will march towards the regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 where they will hold a program.
Perez added that a nationally-coordinated transport protest will be made as they continue to protest against jeepney phaseout, oil price hike and call for the scrapping of TRAIN law.
PISTON-Cebu had a series of transportation protests last year as they continue to oppose the plan of the government to phaseout jeepneys that are 15 years old and above.
Perez, in a radio interview, also said that their protest would include the call for the scrapping of the TRAIN law which they described as anti-poor because of the increase in the prices of fuel with the imposition of excise tax and import tax.
PISTON also demands a P6 per liter discount from oil companies and they wanted President Rodrigo Duterte to direct all oil companies in the country to give the drivers the requested discount.
Perez said that if prices of fuel continue to increase, this will surely decrease the take home pay of the drivers.
Kaohsiung buses
Due to the expected nationwide transport strike on Monday, at least 20 Kaohsiung buses are on standby and ready to ferry the affected commuters.
Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak who chairs the committee on public order and safety told The FREEMAN that these buses are free of charge.
He said the affected commuters may call the Command Control Center through 09471780000, 09471789999 or dial 166 for immediate deployment of Kaohsiung buses.
Tumulak said there will be policemen assigned along the main thoroughfares to monitor the protest and for security purposes.
Cebu City Transportation Office operation’s chief Francisco “Isko” Ouano said all the traffic enforcers are aware that PISTON will hold a nationwide protest on Monday.
He said he will deploy at least four patrol cars to the area where PISTON is holding the protest to monitor the traffic situation.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña is calling on the public to be prepared and he promised that the city government will help the affected commuters. —Odessa O. Leyson
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