NCR on full alert starting Sunday night for transport Strike

Ma. Lourdes “Miami” Ebilane
May 9, 2008
Story: NCR on full alert starting Sunday night for transport Strike

National Capital Region Chief Geary Barias will put the entire Metro Manila into full alert on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at around 8:00 pm in preparation for the transport strike on Monday by PISTON.

The PISTON will have their transport strike on Monday to address the continuous oil price hike which affecting their income.

The NCRPO chief said there will be 2,000 police personnel will focus on the rally itself and around 10,000 policemen “will manning our post.”

Barias also added that based on his dialogue with PISON’s Secretary General George San Mateo, the group assured him of a peaceful strike. “They gave an assurance that they will make it peaceful and based on their last transport strike it was also peaceful,” Barias said.

Though he foresee that the strike will only affect 40% of Metro Manila, “If you will compare it to transport strike done last December by PISTON, 40% were only affected. Based on that record, I think that will be the same average on Monday.”

The NCRPO together with NCRCOM, MMDA and local government will start at 5:00 am as well for their libreng sakay for the passengers who will be stranded on that day.

San Mateo explained in a phone interview with Manila Shimbun their purpose for the transport strike. He said they want to remove the 12% (Value added tax) VAT on oil prices. “If they will remove that we can save at around P4.70 per liter, and this will be a big help for us.”

He further explained that in one day they can be able to save at about P127 per day. “This savings will be an additional to the income of our drivers. They will buy food, those food that they will buy is vatable as well, so the government can still earn from that.”

Other reason that they are fighting for is to remove the oil deregulation law. The group believes that oil prices should be controlled.

“We will not push through with fare hike, because it will only be an added burden to the people. They too are already spending too much, it is the government who should adjust its prices,” San Mateo said.