PISTON to Hold 2-Day Transport Strike Nationwide Against Fuel Price Hike

Transport group PISTON announced on Tuesday that it will hold a two-day transport strike nationwide on September 29 and 30 to protest against the continued rise in fuel prices. PISTON president Mody Floranda said the strike will be held nationwide on Tuesday, September 29, and Wednesday, September 30, to be participated in not just by drivers and operators but also labor and urban poor groups, according to a report by Allan Gatus on Dobol B TV. The strike will be conducted to call on the government to act swiftly against the big-time oil price hike in the country. Floranda said they will continue protesting until the government removes the excise tax and value added tax on fuel products, to bring down its prices. He made the announcement as the group held a protest action on Aurora Boulevard corner Westpoint Street in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday morning. PISTON held Tuesday's protest action as fuel companies raised pump prices anew, with the increase in diesel price at around P7.80 per liter, amid the Middle East conflict. The group ended the protest action peacefully past 8 a.m. Members of the Quezon City Police District, Traffic and Transport Management Division of the Quezon City local government unit, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority were in the area to maintain peace and order. —KG, GMA News