‘LET’S TALK INSTEAD OF HOLDING TRANSPORT STRIKE,’ PALACE URGES DRIVERS, OPERATORS

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday appealed to transport groups to pursue a dialogue with the government instead of holding a transport strike to address the rising global oil prices fueled by tensions in the Middle East.

During a Palace Press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the government acknowledged the challenges faced by the drivers and operators due to the series of oil price increases, but she emphasized that a transport strike is not the solution.

“Ang nais ng pamahalaan ay pag-uusap, negosasyon, makita kung ano ang daing at kung mayroon man, magkakaroon ng transport rally. Hindi kasi ito ang tugon, hindi ito ang sagot sa mga ganitong klaseng issue dahil mas mahihirapan lang din po ang ating mga commuters sa gagawin ganitong klaseng aksyon,” Castro said.

Castro said the government remains open to discussions and is prepared to listen to the concerns of transport groups to find peaceful and practical solutions.

While recognizing the right of groups to stage protests, she stressed that prolonged transport disruptions would not help the economy and would primarily burden the commuting public.

“Hindi po natin pinipigilan ang sinumang nais na magkaroon ng pagpoprotesta, but still hindi po siya makakatulong sa ating ekonomiya. Kung anuman po ang gagawin ng anong grupo iyan,” Castro added.

Transport group Manibela on Tuesday threatened to stage a three-day transport strike from Aug. 10 to 12 if the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) fail to grant its request for a provisiona P2 fare hike.