Southern RP Transport Groups Hold Summit, Demand More Rollback on Oil Prices, Etc.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 17, 2008) – Public transport groups in the southern Philippines held a summit Wednesday in Davao City in an effort to strongly campaign for the more rollback in prices of oil and scrapping of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products.

The summit was organized by the Transport of Southern Mindanao for Solidarity, Independence and Nationalism (TRANSMISION).

Edil Gonzaga, the group’s spokesman, said despite recent rollbacks on oil prices, transport operators and public utility drivers should not waver in calling for the scrapping of the 12 percent VAT. “In fact, we should not be contented with the rollbacks because oil companies are not transparent in their pricing schemes,” he said.

Gonzaga said there is dire need for the government to have a permanent solution to stop oil companies from just raising their pump prices. “There is a strong need for the nationalization of local oil industry because this industry is vital to the country’s economic development, therefore should not remain in the hands of profit-driven oil cartel,” he said.

Transport Strikes Leave Thousands Stranded

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 12, 2008) – Thousands of passengers were stranded Monday after transport strikes paralyzed major cities across the southern Philippines.

The transport strikes, organized by various organizations and militant groups, left commuters stranded in the cities Davao, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos and several areas in the provinces of Davao, Cotabato and Agusan.

Jeepney operators were demanding a roll back in prices of oil and petrol and for the government to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law.

“Reports from our groups in different areas in Mindanao showed that thousands were affected by the strikes. We don’t want these things to happen, but we need to send a strong message to the government that poor people are suffering from high prices of oil and basic commodities,” Roger Santos, a militant leader, told the Mindanao Examiner.

The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the transport strikes paralyzed about 95 percent in those areas. Bayan was backing the strikes called by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide or PISTON.

Aside from Bayan and PISTON, the protest was also participated by various militant groups such as the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, Farmers Association of Davao City-KMP, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela, Promotion of Church People's Response, Consumer Alert, Anakbayan, Barangay Council for Women, and Kalitawhan.

In Davao, more than 200 protesters manned at least five different areas where they persuaded other transport operators to join the strike.

“We have anticipated such support from the people of Davao City and we are positive that the strike will be successful especially with the supports that have been coming from the drivers themselves,” said Jeppie Ramada, Bayan secretary-general.

Ramada said they have the support of the public.

“The drivers are not alone in the fight against the relentless price increases of oil. The broad support from the people who always bear the brunt of high cost of living will be with them,” he said.

There were reports of violence and the strikes ended peacefully later in the day, he said. (Mindanao Examiner)

Negros, Lalahok Sa Nationwide Transport Strike

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 12, 2007) - Pinaghahandaan na umano ng transport sector ang isang malaking rally bilang protesta sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina, diesel at iba pang produkto.

Makikilahok umano ang ibat-ibang grupo sa Negros na sasalihan rin ng mga militanteng organisasyon bilang bahagi ng isang national strike.

Hindi naman agad makunan ng pahayag ang lider ng mga aktibista at transport groups sa Negros ukol sa kanilang plano, subali't nagbabala naman ang pulisya sa anumang kaguluhang idudulot ng strike.

Hinihiling ng mga transport groups noon ang pagbaba ng presyo ng gasolina at diesel o kaya ay taasan ang pamasahe dahil sa halos wala na umanong naiuuwing pera ang mga driver.

Reklamo rin ng mga operators ang pagtaas naman ng mga piyesa. Nanawagan naman ang ilang mga driver sa publiko na suportahan ang kanilang ipinaglalaban.
Nais ng mga ito na i-deregulate ang batas sa langis dahil kino-kontrol ng Caltex, Petron at Shell ang presyo ng gasolina at diesel. Bukod sa Negros ay makikilahok rin sa rally sa mga susunod na araw ang mga ibang transport groups sa mga lalawigan. (Mindanao Examiner)

Transport Groups Protest Oil Price Hikes In South RP

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 10, 2007) - Militant transport groups in the southern Filipino port city of Davao said it would join national strike this week to protest continued hikes in oil prices.

Edil Gonzaga, spokesperson of the Transport of Southern Mindanao for Solidarity, Independence and Nationalism-PISTON(TRANSMISION-PISTON), said there will be more protest actions unless President Gloria Arroyo exerts substantial effort to put a cap on surging hikes of prices of petroleum products.

"Drivers and operators around the country have been demanding the government to put a stop on these unabated oil price increases. Poor Filipinos have been clamoring economic relief from the consequent upsurge of prices of basic commodities. Time and time again, the Arroyo administration has never failed to disappoint the clamor of the Filipinos," Gonzaga told the Mindanao Examiner.

Gonzaga also lambasted the so-called "Big Three," or transnational oil companies Shell, Caltex and Petron. He said these firms control 90% of the oil market in the country, from production, refinery, retail and marketing.

This control, he added, has given the three companies monopoly over setting the price trend of all oil and petroleum products in the country.

"What can you expect from profit-hungry companies like like Shell, Caltex and Petron? All they are concerned about is increasing their profit margins hundredfolds. What do they care if ordinary drivers and Filipinos can no longer afford basic commodities, which prices consequently skyrocketed due to unabated hike in the price of oil?"

He also pointed out that the government has "washed its hands clean" with its policy on oil price hikes. Due to the Oil Deregulation Law that took effect in 1998, Gonzaga said that oil companies are afforded by the government with the free hand to increase the price of oil in their discretion.

"All this government needs is the political will to severe its subservience to big oil companies. It needs the same political will to scrap the ODL that continues to give these companies the lee way to hike oil price whenever and to how much they want," Gonzaga said.

2 Mindanao Bus Firms Slash Ticket Prices

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Feb) Two major transportation firms in the southern Philippines announced Friday a huge cut in bus fares as part of it promotion to attract more passengers.

Both Yellow and Holiday Bus Lines cut as much as 45% from its current ticket prices for their routes in Davao and General Santos cities.
"The company gave promo to attract more passengers," Alfredo Pedroso, YBL terminal supervisor, told the Mindanao Examiner.

Pedroso said regular ticket price for an air conditioned bus was reduced to P165 from its regular fare, P205. And they also slashed the fare for non-air conditioned bus to P100 from its previous ticket of P185.

For the part of the Holiday Bus Line, Ben Naquila, the firm’s terminal in-charge, said they reduced their current bus fares from P205 to P140 on air-conditioned buses and P100 for the non-air condition, also in the Davao-General Santos routes.

The promotion, they said, would lure many passengers to ride buses instead of boats or private vans which are also cheap. (Romy Bwaga)