BACOLOD CITY - The planned transport strike dubbed “People’s Holiday” here and in Negros Occidental is set March 21-22.
The United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc), Sentrong Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Negros (Sstone) and Federation of Bacolod Drivers Association (Febacda) on Monday released a joint statement condemning the continuing price increase of fuels caused by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The drivers, operators, and vehicle owners belonging to the three big three transport groups are expected to air their sentiments to the national government on the series of oil price hikes in the country, as well as other grievances.
The strikers are also pushing the suspension of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) in all petroleum products, utilities, basic commodities, price control on basic commodities, and suspension of excise tax.

The strikers specifically want the oil deregulation law suspended and the government’s modernization program junked.
The transport strike will start from 3 a.m. of March 21 to 3 p.m. the following day. It will conclude with a prayer rally at the public plaza here.
The groups are urging residents to stay at home as a sign of protest against the increase on basic commodities, transportation cost, agriculture, and industrial products.
With the looming transport strike, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the city government will provide service vehicles for employees who would be stranded here.
However, city employees will continue adopting the skeletal workforce scheme, according to Familiaran.
For the province, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the four-day workweek will remain at the Provincial Capitol here.
Lacson said he will meet with heads of various departments at the provincial capitol and encourage them to do carpooling for the employees.