Manibela to Hold Nationwide Strike Over Fuel Price Hikes

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Manibela will hold a two-day nationwide strike on September 14 and September 15 to protest the expected increase in fuel prices next week. Manibela chair Mar Valbuena announced the planned strike in a social media post, noting the price trend of fuel already reaching as high as P100 per liter. "Next week, the prices of petroleum products will increase again, and you’re once again using the war in the Middle East as the reason," Valbuena said. Diesel prices may increase by P2 to P2.50 per liter, while gasoline prices may jump by P4.50 to P5 per liter. This would be the second consecutive week of fuel price increases. Fuel price watchers have noted escalating hostilities in the Middle East conflict and their impact on the flow of oil supplies from the region. Airfares are also expected to rise anew as fuel surcharges hit Level 14. Valbuena called anew for the suspension of the excise and the value-added tax on petroleum products to ease the impact of the price hikes. "We cannot get the excise tax and value-added tax on petroleum products removed," he said. He also expressed concern over the government’s P12-per-liter fuel subsidy, saying drivers were still being charged by gas stations. "The P12-per-liter assistance or fuel subsidy at gas stations… we’re the ones being charged by the gas stations because, they say, LandBank is not paying the subsidy being provided to drivers," Valbuena said.