5-day transport strike looms

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  • MITCH M. LIPA

Members of the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center in Bacolod City are planning to stage a weeklong transport strike this month.

UNDOC secretary general Diego Malacad said they are conducting a series of unity forum and other transport groups based in Bacolod are joining them during the planned 5-day transport strike.

He added that church representatives were present during the unity forum and they also expressed their views on the impact of the series of oil price increases.

Malacad said the unity forum aims to drum up support for the transport strike from other sectors.

He said they will demand from the government to hold off the implementation of the 12 percent value added tax and to designate a priority lane in every gas station for public utility vehicles to avail of the Pasada Discount program of the Department of Energy.

UNDOC also joined the Western Visayas Transport Coalition in filing a petition for a P2.50 fare increase in the region.

He added that the transport sector is directly affected by the increasing prices of oil and the soaring prices of basic commodities.

Since January, he said oil prices were adjusted nine times. The price of diesel is now on the average of P57 to P58 per liter, while price of gasoline is at P70 per liter, Malacad said. | MML