BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) will conduct a “unity forum” with various stakeholders on Thursday afternoon regarding its planed strike by the end of March due to incessant oil price hikes.
Secretary-general Diego Malacad said they will discuss with stakeholders the validity of the transport stoppage for five days.
UNDOC has two demands to the national government so it won’t push through with the strike – defer the full implementation of the 12-percent value added tax on fuel and suspension of the excise tax also on fuel.
UNDOC will also talk with the city government of Bacolod to recall its endorsement of the transport modernization program.
Gas prices are expected to further soar by as much as P3.80 per liter of gasoline and P5.50 per liter of diesel today, March 8.
The incessant increase in fuel prices stems from the adverse economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Department of Energy urged consumers to report to the agency oil retail outlets with unreasonable petroleum prices amid the non-stop oil price hikes for the past nine weeks./PN
