3-day strike set this week as group calls for fuel price drop

National

TRANSPORT group Manibela will hold a three-day nationwide strike from April 15 to 17, coinciding with the government's rollout of the service contracting program.

Chairman Mar Valbuena said they are protesting the government's weak response to rising oil prices.

The group is demanding a rollback to P55 per liter.

Valbuena claimed oil companies earned P35 billion in profits since prices went up in the last 45 days due to the Middle East conflict. He said hikes doubled or even tripled, reaching over 200 percent.

Valbuena said drivers can only take home P100 to P200 for their families as around P2,800 is spent on diesel.

About 45 percent of Manibela members have stopped plying their routes.

Valbuena criticized President Marcos for refusing to suspend oil taxes even though Congress gave him the power.

"You've already been given the power, but you still refuse to use it. Why are you allowing this?" Valbuena asked in a Philstar report. "Are you enjoying the profits? Are you complicit?"

He also slammed the service contracting scheme, saying only 50,000 units are eligible and payouts are uncertain.

Manibela said only the suspension of VAT and excise tax and a price rollback to P55 per liter will solve the crisis.

Valbuena also called on DOE Secretary Sharon Garin to resign, describing her as a spokesperson for big oil firms.

"To DOE Secretary Sharon Garin: You're useless. You should resign!" he said.

Malacañang responded that the strike is untimely and urged transport groups to help find solutions instead.

"They say slow action, but they can see what the President and the administration have been doing for the transport sector. They were in fact prioritized," said Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro. (Jene-V N. Sayson, CTU-TC BAEL-ELSD Intern)