Malacañang urged jeepney drivers and operators to forego their planned transport strike this week to protest the looming hike in fuel prices.
In a brief statement issued last Monday, Acting Presidential spokesperson Martin M. Andanar said the government is already addressing the plight of those in the public transportation sector, which are now struggling to cope with rising pump prices.
“The government continues to distribute its fuel subsidy. Over 180,000 public utility vehicle operators were already given fuel subsidies, as of June 1, 2022 according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB),” Andanar said.
“We urge jeep drivers and operators not to push through with their planned transport strike this week,” he added.
LTFRB earlier said it already released P1.17 billion worth of fuel subsidies as of last month.It is expected to release more as it targets to extend the benefit to 264,578 drivers and operators.
The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) threatened their members will stop their operations if oil firms push through with their plan to raise diesel prices by P6.30 to P6.50 per liter and gasoline prices by P2.50 to P2.70 per liter.
It noted the work stoppage is necessary to prevent its members from incurring more losses due to the high fuel prices.
Diminished value
For its part, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) also expressed concern over the upcoming hike in fuel prices, which it noted may diminish the benefits of a new round of minimum wage hikes, which will take effect this week.
It issued the statement after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that the new wage orders from 14 regions, including Metro Manila, already took effect or will be enforced this month.
“Because of extraordinary inflation, the series of wage increase orders issued by the wage boards failed to restore the purchasing power of wages and it didn’t uplift workers’ purchasing power above poverty threshold wage level,” TUCP President Raymond C. Mendoza said in a statement.
Due to the unabated rise in the cost of living, TUCP said it is now drafting a roadmap to restore the dwindling value of wages.
“TUCP is drawing up a bipartite and or tripartite roadmap in restoring the depressed wages and achieving decent wages,” TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said.
Currently, he said the roadmap is still being drafted and will involve policies on productivity, tax incentives, employment generation, security of tenure, freedom of association as well as industry of collective bargaining.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza
