Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) conducted a transport strike in Negros Occidental as part of its protest in junking the Oil Deregulation Law amid the bigtime and continuous oil price hikes in the country.
The Oil Deregulation Law removed the government’s control on the pricing, exportation, and importation of petroleum products and allowed oil companies to dictate oil prices in the country.
“Ngayon ang unang araw ng transport strike sa Negros Occidental laban sa tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis at pagtanggi ng gobyerno na isuspinde ang koleksyon ng buwis sa langis (Today is the first day of the transport strike in Negros Occidental against the continuous rise of oil prices and the government’s refusal to suspend oil tax collection),” said KMU on Monday, March 21.
The transport strike will be held until Tuesday, March 22, said the labor group.
Meanwhile, during the so-called “People’s Protest,” KMU likewise reiterated their call on the suspension of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) in all petroleum products, immediate provision of fuel subsidy for drivers and operators, as well as the urgent price control in all basic commodities.