During the last month, motorists, particularly drrvers and operators of Publice Utility Vehicles (PUVs), have carried the heavy end of the consecutive increase in oil prices as an impact of the Middle East crisis.
The prices of petroleum products have increased twice of its original amount, days after the war in Middle east sparked, impacting the global oil supply and demand.
And amid the attempts for peace talks in the region, the Philippines have slightly felt its impact given the 2nd consecutive week of rollback on oil prices.
For transport groups, however, minimal rollback is not enough and that oil prices must be lowered back to its original price pre-Middle East crisis.
Yesterday, transport groups PISTON and MANIBELA staged another transport strike, as part of the protest against the still high oil prices.
The groups appeal for a big-time rollback to be able to recover from the high oil expenses in the previous month.
In Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s end, General Manager Nicolas Torre III expressed the agency’s commitment in ensuring an orderly and peacful dmeonstration, extending support to the affected sector.
Torre noted that aside from securing peaceful rallies, MMDA also focused on ensuring that drivers who did not join the strike are not harassed.
He said that there were no reported incidents regarding protester’s harassing and blocking other drivers on route.
MMDA likewise prioritized the needs of commuters who are the most affected during transport strikes.
Aside initiatives from the Local Government, MMDA also deployed transport vehicles to offer free rides given the lesser PUVs in the road.
Torre, however, emphasized that during the latest transport strikes, the agency did nit deploy free rides in consideration to drivers who did not join the protests.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News