Piston to stage protest action vs oil price hike

MANILA, Philippines - Militant transport group Piston is poised to stage a protest action this week to denounce the fresh rounds of oil price increase by big oil companies on Tuesday.

Piston national president George San Mateo said the protest action will be  held on Thursday or Friday  to oppose the hikes of  P1.45 per liter in diesel and P1.05 per liter in gasoline.

San Mateo noted that new round of oil price hike is the fifth price adjustment for diesel while it is the sixth hike for gasoline after the May 13 mid-term polls.

With the new oil price increase, San Mateo said a total of  P3.25/liter has been hiked for diesel while P3.35/liter has been added for gasoline.

Based on the Piston's monitoring, diesel is now at P41.40 per liter and gasoline is at P51.55 per liter.

San Mateo said the rates are P6 to P9 higher  in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao.

“Matagal na naming hinihiling sa pamahalaan na ipawalangbisa ang Oil Deregulation Law, tanggalin ang 12 percent value-added Tax sa petrolyo at isabansa ang industrya ng langis," he said.

At the moment, Piston has filed petition for a fare increase. 

“Mas mahalaga sa ngayon na mabuo agad ang malawak na pagkakaisa at sama-samang pagkilos ng mga drivers, mananakay at motorista upang ikasa ang laban at mga pagkilos kontra sa sunud-sunod na oil price hikes," San Mateo said. - Dennis Carcamo