The transportation strike in Bacolod City will push through despite the rollback in fuel prices, Rodolfo Gardoce, chairperson of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center-Piston (UNDOC-Piston) said on Monday, April 13.
He said the majority of the traditional jeepney groups are joining the strike from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to call for a further rollback in fuel prices.
They are trying to also convince the operators of the modern jeepneys to join their protest, Gardoce added.
He reiterated that they are calling for the abolition of Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise taxes on petroleum products, and for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law.
Among the transport groups joining the strike are UNDOC-Piston, Kabacod Negros Transport Organization (KNETCO), and Bacolod Alliance for Commuters Operators and Drivers (BACOD) Manibela.
Oil firms on Monday announced fuel price cuts of up to PHP20.89/liter effective Tuesday.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. also ordered the removal of excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene, invoking his authority under Republic Act 12316 to cushion Filipino households from rising fuel costs.
This is equivalent to a reduction of PHP3.36 per liter for LPG and PHP5.60 per liter for kerosene, Marcos said.
“This means lower costs for cooking and daily needs,” he added.
Marcos said possible adjustments to excise taxes on gasoline and diesel will be discussed in the upcoming meeting of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Committee on Tuesday.*
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