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In this photo taken on April 5, 2024, jeepneys commute along a street in Manila.
AFP / Ted Aljibe, file
MANILA, Philippines — Jeepney drivers will stage a nationwide transport strike on Thursday, March 19, as fuel prices, which have already hit an all-time high of P100 per liter, are only expected to keep rising in the coming weeks.
Transport group PISTON, or the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, announced on Monday, March 16, plans for a one-day suspension of operations later this week to protest the government’s "slow" response to rising fuel prices and the impact on drivers and commuters.
According to PISTON President Mody Floranda, the transport strike seeks to compel the Marcos Jr. administration to remove value-added tax and excise taxes on petroleum, cap fuel prices at P55 per liter, and implement a P5 fare increase amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Congress, however, is only pushing to pass a bill granting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emergency powers to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes for up to six months.
Even if the suspension is implemented, fuel prices would only be down by P5 to P10 per liter — far less than the double-digit fuel price hikes over the past two weeks.
The transport group condemned oil companies for imposing big-time price increases despite earning billions in profit.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House are also considering a review or possible repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, which has allowed firms to adjust petroleum prices based on the Mean of Platts Singapore, or MOPS, and their inventory.
Subsidies and fare hikes
In an attempt to mitigate the impact of rising oil prices, the government will roll out a P5,000 fuel subsidy for transport workers nationwide starting March 17. It will first cater to tricycle drivers in Metro Manila before extending it to jeepney, taxi, bus, and other public utility vehicle drivers.
The Department of Transportation also said on Monday that fare hikes for Metro Manila buses, point-to-point buses, modern and traditional jeepneys, and airport taxis are set to take effect in the coming weeks.
Fuel prices this week are expected to increase by as much as P16.60 per liter for gasoline, P23.90 per liter for diesel, and P8.90 per liter for kerosene.
Oil companies have agreed to implement the adjustments on a staggered basis starting Tuesday, March 17, to try and slow down the hike's immediate impact on goods and services.
Since last week, the government has enforced a four-day workweek and work-from-home scheme across agencies to conserve fuel as tensions in the Middle East continue to affect global oil markets.
