Piston warns of strike if no P11 rollback
By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:47:00 08/30/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The transport group Piston (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide) is considering staging a nationwide strike to push for a P11 rollback in diesel and gasoline prices.
The group is also maintaining its call on the government to scrap the 12-percent VAT on petroleum products.
Piston secretary general George San Mateo clarified, however, that the group has not reached a specific decision to go on strike or set a date for one.
San Mateo said Piston was waiting for the oil companies' response to the group's call for a P11 rollback instead of the intermittent P1 rollback implemented despite the decline of oil prices in the world market.
"This (P11 rollback) can actually be made in installments of P7 and P4. But the P1 by P1 rollback they are doing is not acceptable and is too low. If the oil companies and the government reject our appeal, then we will firm up plans for a nationwide transport strike," he said.
San Mateo pointed out that world oil prices have gone below $110. He added that the P54 per liter price of diesel in the local market was "overpriced" and should actually be P44 per liter.
He also criticized the government, particularly the Department of Energy, for remaining silent on the issue instead of persuading the oil companies to implement a full rollback due on fuel products such as LPG, kerosene, and gasoline so that Filipinos can actually feel some relief.
San Mateo appealed to the House of Representatives and the Senate to promptly hear bills seeking the abolition of the Oil Deregulation Law and the 12-percent VAT on oil.
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