DANA ZUSHA GARDUQUE, Staff Writer
Concerned Drivers and Operators-Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide Bicol (Condor-Piston Bicol) organized the second wave of the transport strike in the province on March 26 at Daraga Park as the oil and gasoline prices continuously increase due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Several transport groups, including Tanggol Pasada Network, Legazpi-Daraga Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Legdajoda), and jeepney routes from Daraga to Legazpi letters A and B, Tahao Road, loop one (1), loop two (2), Guinobatan, Camalig, Polangui, Ligao, Oas, and Malabog, participated in the nationwide transport strike.
Ramon Rescovilla, chairperson of Condor-Piston, said that the government asserts that it can no longer do anything to address the concerns of the ordinary drivers and citizens affected by rising fuel prices, citing the issue as part of a global crisis.
Ang panawagan namin [ay] may magagawa [ang gobyerno] kung gugustuhin. Kasi unang-una, kung gusto ng gobyerno, ibasura ang Oil Deregulation Law. Kung saan itong batas na ito ay nagpoproteksyon lang doon sa malalaking dayuhang korporasyon tulad ng big three: Shell, Petron, Caltex,"
Rescovilla said.
He also called for the repeal of the excise tax law and the value-added tax (VAT), adding that they pay six pesos in excise tax and seven pesos in e-VAT per liter of gas.
“Ang kinakarga namin sa maghapon [ay] 30 liters. Ngayon, ang buwis na nawawala sa’min ay binibigay siya sa isang araw. Kung kukuwentahin mo ‘yan, mahigit 700 pesos ang naibubuwis namin na kung dapat wala ‘yan ay nauuwi na ito ng mga drayber sa kanilang pamilya,” Rescovilla said.
Meanwhile, Convenor of BUeños Kontra Korapsyon (BKK) Jan Sander Aban, who also joined the transport strike, called for a wider youth mobilization to condemn the inaction of the Marcos-Duterte administration to the growing crisis.
“Inaasahan natin is tayo mismo ipaparamdam sana natin sa lipunan at dito sa komunidad natin na may need na mag-act, especially ang iskolar ng bayan at ang kabataan para doon sa kahit katiting na pagbabagong gusto nating makamit,” Aban said.
Currently, vendors in nearby markets are also bearing the brunt of rising fuel and gasoline prices, as the increase in oil costs pushes up the prices of goods and transportation, causing a drop in consumer turnout.
“Bumaba lang ng kaunti [ang kita ng produkto] kasi hindi rin kami naka-adjust nang tumaas [ang presyo] kasi kawawa naman ang mga consumer. Sa part namin kahit konti lang basta meron,” said Harold, a meat vendor.
As of writing, diesel prices have reportedly climbed to 131 pesos in Daraga.
The transport strike is set to continue until March 27.
Photos by ALAINE RODRIGO, Photojournalist
