Piston continues strike; Manibela ends protest

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group PISTON pressed ahead with its two-day strike yesterday, while Manibela called off its three-day protest after just one day.

PISTON president Mody Floranda said around 70,000 to 100,000 jeepney drivers and operators nationwide joined the strike, which sought lower fuel prices and higher public transport fares.

“Despite the resounding call from the people across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, all we received from the Marcos administration were meager aid, an inadequate fare increase and a pittance of a wage hike,” Floranda said.

“Instead of addressing the grievances of drivers and the public, the police have been ordered to harass peaceful strikes and protests,” he added.

PISTON renewed its call for fuel prices to be reduced to P55 per liter and for the removal of excise and value-added taxes on petroleum products.

It also called for the repeal of the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act, saying this would allow the government to regain independent control over fuel prices.

The group also urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to approve a higher fare increase, saying the P1 hike that took effect Monday was insufficient to offset rising fuel costs.

PISTON has a pending petition before the LTFRB seeking to increase the minimum jeepney fare from P13 to P23.

Called off

While PISTON continued its protest, Manibela ended its three-day strike after only one day.

Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said the group held discussions with the Land Transportation Office during the first day of its strike.

The LTO, however, is not involved in fare implementation or active transport services for public utility vehicles.

A day later, Valbuena attended a rice distribution ceremony led by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for transport workers.

During the ceremony, she playfully suggested that Valbuena stop the transport strikes.

Valbuena responded with the peace-sign gesture associated with President Marcos during the 2022 elections.

LTO chief Markus Lacalinao also attended the ceremony.

Business as usual

The strike, however, did not stop all jeepneys from operating.

Many drivers in Muntinlupa and Parañaque continued to ply their routes yesterday despite the protest.

Nestor Bustamente, a jeepney driver in Parañaque, said the P1 fare increase and the P7.57 diesel price rollback this week were still not enough to offset rising fuel costs.

Despite this, he chose to continue driving instead of joining the protest, saying he could not afford to lose a day’s income needed to support his family.

“I think joining the strike is good, but how about my family?” Bustamente said in Filipino. “We need to continue plying our routes just to have food on the table.”