Transport strike to push through despite P12 fuel subsidy, MANIBELA says

Transport group MANIBELA on Wednesday said its three-day transport strike will push through despite the government's announcement of a P12-discount per liter of fuel for public utility vehicles (PUVs). "Tuloy po (It will proceed)," MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbeuna told GMA News Online in a message. While MANIBELA welcomed the P2-increase of the fuel discount, the group maintained that the measure is not enough to address the rising costs of operating public transport. In a separate statement, MANIBELA stressed that the subsidy should not replace its long-standing appeal for a "just and reasonable" increase in minimum fares. MANIBELA also pointed to recurring problems in availing fuel discounts, saying many drivers are unable to benefit because of offline systems at gasoline stations, a limited number of participating fuel outlets, or failure to provide the promised discount. As a result, the group said, many drivers still end up buying fuel at full price. According to MANIBELA, a fare increase would provide more direct financial relief because it immediately adds to drivers' daily earnings without requiring them to rely on fuel stations to receive the benefit. The transport group also urged the government to consider suspending excise tax and value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products, while studying ways to ensure proper implementation of fuel price rollbacks. It likewise renewed its call to repeal or amend the Oil Deregulation Law in favor of consumers, particularly ordinary Filipinos affected by rising fuel costs. — VDV, GMA News