Public transport in Iloilo normal despite protest

ILOILO CITY — Transport groups and militant organizations in Iloilo and Aklan joined protest actions yesterday in support of the national transport strike but public utility vehicles, mostly jeepneys in the two provinces continued to ply their respective routes throughout the day.

In Iloilo City, around 100 protesters joined a rally in the afternoon at the Plazoletagay, the city’s main intersection.

Carrying streamers and placards, the protesters led by the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan demanded a rollback in the price of petroleum products by P9 per liter.

The protesters also called for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, which they blamed for the unabated increase in oil prices.

The protesters ended their rally with a noise barrage which was joined in by jeepney drivers who sounded their horns.

The public transportation in Western Visayas remained normal as transport groups did not join the Piston-led strike because they said they lacked time to prepare.

In Aklan, Bayan, Piston and other militant groups also held a rally around 10 a.m. at the West Aklan Terminal in the capital town of Kalibo. /INQUIRER