‘Palace not the loser if transport group snubs dialog on oil price hikes’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said on Monday that it would not lose should the militant transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Transport Operators Nationwide (Piston)  boycott a dialog being set up between President Benigno Aquino III and transport groups this week over the oil price hikes.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that it would be “unfortunate” if Piston refused to take part in the dialog being set up by the Palace, especially when the group had requested for one over a month ago.

“Now that the President has extended the hand and has openly said that we want to hear the concerns of the transport groups, (Piston) doesn’t want to participate,” Valte said at a Palace briefing.

“We will not be the one to lose here if they won’t participate,” she also said, adding that Piston would lose the chance to tell the President himself its concerns on oil price increases.

Asked whether the dialog was meant to avert a planned transport strike, Valte issued a denial, saying the dialog would provide a venue for the President to “primarily listen to (transport groups)” and to already tell them “what can be done to address the situation.”

Valte said six transport groups have signified their interest to join the dialog with President Aquino.

She said the government would be prepared to give commuters free rides should a transport strike push through.

But Valte also reminded holders of public franchises “not to do things that would not help the situation.”

The government, she said, would take action and investigate transport operators if anything “happens that is not in accordance to … franchise requirements.”