2-Day transport strike to push thru next week

The “PEOPLE’S HOLIDAY UNTAT BYAHE” (Transport Strike) in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental on March 21 and 22 will push through with more operators’ and drivers’ groups, consumer organizations and other sectors joining.

Drivers’ and operators’ associations like UNDOC, FEBACDA and SSTONE and various consumers’ groups have agreed during a unity forum on March 10, and confirmed in this morning’s press conference at the Negros Press Club building, that the “untat byahe” they also called People’s Protest, will be from 3 a.m. on March 21 until 3 p.m. on March 22.

They said the transport holiday will not only express the sentiments of the transport sector, “but will also echo the harship of ordinary citizens amid the increases in fuel prices and other commodities.”

They told newsmen that they are demanding the suspension of the 12% VAT on all oil products, the removal of the 12% VAT on water, electricity and basic commodities, and the imposition of price control on all basic commodities.

Other demands: Removal of excise tax/TRAIN law on all public utility vehicles, the immediate distribution of the P6,500 “ayuda” for drivers of tricycle, taxi, jeepney, mini bus and of other PUVs including the P7,200 for operators.

They also want the Oil Deregulation Law scrapped and “the coop/corp. scheme of fake modernization program.”* (NDB News)