Groups to stage protest vs oil price hike

MANILA, Philippines - Several transport operators and drivers will stage a big rally on Friday, Nov. 30, to protest the continuous increase in the prices of petroleum products in the country,  militant transport group Piston said on Wednesday.

Piston national president George San Mateo said the rally, which will coincide with the 149th birthday of hero Andres Bonifacio,  will start around 8 a.m. at the Welcome Rotonda area in Quezon City.

San Mateo said transport groups under Kilusang Mayo Uno will join the march from Rotonda to Plaza Miranda in Manila to the Liwasang Bonifacio near Manila City Hall then will proceed to the US embassy along Roxas Blvd.

Protesters will end their march in the historic Don Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola Bridge), where they will hold a program, urging President Benigno Aquino III to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and the value added tax on petroleum products.

Earlier  Wednesday, Piston members held a noise barrage in Cubao, Quezon City to score the latest rounds of oil price hikes.

Oil companies hiked by P.70/L the price of diesel,  gasoline by P.60/L,  and kerosene by P.50/L.

Last week, oil firms  increased the pump price of gasoline by P1.15/L and of diesel by P.25/L. - Dennis Carcamo