The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) announced that it will conduct a transport holiday on Monday, March 23, as drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) struggle to operate due high prices of petroleum products.

ACTO national president Libay de LunaWe reall said we cannot operate anymore. So on Monday, we’ll observe a nationwide transport holiday. We won’t go out, and there won’t be any disturbances. This is to show President Marcos that we are truly struggling.

While, the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) and the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) announced that they will postpone their supposed transport strike on Monday.

Instead, they will meet with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), along with other transport groups, to discuss fare increases, as the agencies will begin distributing financial aid to jeepney, UV Express, and Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers.

De Luna said their group is seeking to receive their fuel subsidy and assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development ((DSWD).

She also appealed to the government for help with service contracts and requested a bank moratorium for transport cooperatives struggling to pay for modern jeepney units.

Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations Inc. will also conduct a transport holiday in Iloilo City.

The transport holiday is needed to prevent their organization from financial collapse.

Over 1,000 traditional and modern jeepney drivers and operators plying the public transport route in Iloilo City will participate in the transport holiday.

The group said their goal is to protect the transport sector and safeguard their livelihood.

The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier announced the following fuel price adjustments for the week of March 17 to March 23:

• Diesel – P20.40 to P23.90 per liter
• Gasoline – P12.90 to P16.60 per liter
• Kerosene – P6.90 to P8.90 per liter