MANILA – Transportation agencies said they “will not tolerate any transport strike” that will be staged in protest of the series of oil price increases.
Strikes are a violation of franchises that mandate transport groups to provide public transportation services, according to the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
“Unfortunately, some transport groups are threatening the government of a Red October Strike – an abandonment of their state-given privilege to operate public transport conveyance,” the agencies said in a joint statement released Sunday.
“The law clearly states that being granted public transport franchises is a privilege and a public responsibility, and violating this responsibility will result to sanctions,” they said.
The agencies said they “will make sure that the rule of law shall prevail and will be enforced.”
According to the agencies, the government has a subsidy program that aims to mitigate the impact of oil price hikes.
Latest oil price increases were attributed to higher excise taxes on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and the volatility of oil prices in the world market.
This year, an excise tax of P2.50 per liter on diesel was imposed under the TRAIN Law.
Under the “Pantawid Pasada” program, the government will provide a lump sum fuel subsidy of P5,000 to around 179,000 jeepney operators and drivers nationwide this year.
Transport groups including the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, and the Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytors ng Pilipinas Genuine Organization, warned of mass demonstrations as they proposed a P12 jeepney fare from the current P9. The Senate holds a public hearing on the matter Monday.
This, as another round of oil price hikes is expected this week while the inflation rate for September reaches 6.7 percent, the highest in nine years, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The transport agencies said they are still reviewing the impact of further increases in jeepney fares. They also appealed to the transport groups to have a dialogue with the government.
“The doors to rational and reasonable dialogue between transport groups and the government will continue to be open, transparent and available,” they said. (With Philippine News Agency/PN)
