Transport Caravan and Transport Strikes, “Just For Starters”
Government agencies such as the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) belittled the day of protest but President Benigno Simeon Aquino III signed and announced that day a previously pending executive order that promises to give discounts and subsidies to public utility vehicles.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com
| Sidebar: Government Tried to Quell People’s Protest Vs Oil Overpricing
MANILA – The nationwide people’s protests last March 31 was “a success as it drew a lot of support from drivers’ and workers’ groups and various multi-sectoral groups in the Philippines”, said Larry Tan, spokesman of Koalisyon ng Progresibo at Makabayang Mamamayan (KPMM).
Before midday, the “transport caravan” of more than a hundred jeepneys and FX taxis in Metro Manila had started on its route from Quezon City to Welcome Rotonda, where they were met by private sector workers and government employees from the KMU and Courage, members of Gabriela, Health Alliance of Democracy, the urban poor, various youth and students groups and progressive party-list representatives. A brief program was held there.
In various communities in Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan City and other areas in Metro Manila, organizations allied with KMU and Bayan marched to join the protest in Mendiola later that day to “condemn the Aquino government’s inaction on the spiraling oil prices and the grave abuse by oil companies of hapless consumers”.
Women protesters wrote their demands on oil products.(Photo by Marya Salamat / bulatlat.com)
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/04/01/transport-caravan-and-transport-strikes-%E2%80%9Cjust-for-starters%E2%80%9D/
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