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“PGMA’s promises are lies”

Transport strike looms as oil prices continue to rise

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 11) - “Foolishness! For sure, it was meant to appease the growing disappointment of the people particularly among the public transportation sector.”

This was the reaction of Carlito Wayas, chairperson of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide in Metro Baguio (PISTON-Metro Baguio), when asked about President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s (PGMA) assurance that the upcoming oil price increase will be the last for this year.

“Since PGMA assumed the Presidency in 2001, she has done nothing to prevent the prices of petroleum products from increasing. As a matter of fact, she has been washing her hands by stating that it is not in her powers to prevent these increases because of the Oil Deregulation Law. So, why do we have to believe her now?” Wayas explained.

“PGMA knows that drivers will not take another round of oil price increase sitting down as seen in the successful region-wide strikes of PISTON chapters in Bicol and in Central Luzon, and so she is trying her best to preempt a nation-wide protest,” he added.

Disenchantment

Wayas said public utility drivers particularly the jeepney drivers are disappointed by the government’s failure to curb the continuously increasing prices of diesel because it directly affects the drivers’ daily income. “The abrupt increase in diesel prices decreases the drivers’ income as we have to continually buy diesel for the jeepney’s regular consumption. Almost half of the drivers’ gross income goes to the purchase of diesel,” he explained.

PISTON-Metro Baguio estimates that the daily gross income of a jeepney driver who caters to approximately 200 passengers is P1,100 and the average daily diesel consumption of 25 liters costs P593.75. The remaining amount of P506.25 is divided between the operator and the driver with the former getting 70% (P354.50) and the latter 30% (P151.75). But because the number of passengers varies, it is safe to say that the daily net income of drivers ranges from P140 to P170. Wayas stressed that the upcoming oil price increase wherein diesel prices will increase by P2 per liter will drastically reduce the daily income of drivers to roughly P90 to P120.

Fare hike?

Asked about the possibility of a fare hike, Wayas said “There is nothing wrong with a fare increase because it is meant to uplift the deteriorating economic condition of drivers and their families. But presently, fare hikes are unrealistic because with the oil price increases almost every two or three weeks, this will mean fare adjustments also on a two or three week basis. Eventually we will only create a vicious cycle of oil price hikes and fare hikes.”

He added that it is morally and socially unfair for the commuters who are mostly from lower income families to bear the additional burden of paying for additional fare. Wayas further stated that the best solution to the problem is “the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law which is the main cause of the instability of oil prices.”

Wayas explained PISTON”s stand that “The Filipino people have seen and felt the effects of the Oil Deregulation Law and it has proven to be anti-people. It is high time for the government to stop this madness and look at alternatives like nationalization of the oil industry to arrest the instability in oil prices.” However, Wayas said that the way things are evolving in Malacañang and in Congress, looking for an alternative to the Oil Deregulation Law is the least priority.

Transport Strike

PISTON is planning a nation-wide strike before the end of November to demand the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law and the nationalization of the oil industry. “Our demands to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and to nationalize the oil industry continue to fall on deaf ears. It is time for drastic action so that we can knock some sense into the minds of our government officials,” Wayas said. “And so, we are appealing to the general public to support us in this undertaking.” # via NORDIS

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