MANILA – Members of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization will observe a nationwide transport holiday on Monday, citing heavy losses from rising diesel prices.

“Talagang hindi namin kakayanin na. Kaya kami sa Lunes, magta-transport holiday kami nationwide,” ACTO national president Libay de Luna told dzBB on Sunday, March 22.

She added, “Hindi kami lalabas. Wala namang manggugulo. Para maiparamdam sa ating Presidente Marcos na kami talaga ay hirap na hirap na.”

De Luna said many jeepney drivers are earning as little as P150 per day due to high fuel costs. She urged the government to provide support through service contracting and called on banks to grant moratoriums for transport cooperatives struggling to pay for modern jeepney units.

Another transport group, the Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations Inc., is also set to hold a transport holiday in Iloilo City. Earlier this month, PISTON staged a strike on March 19 and 20 to protest rising fuel prices.

The Department of Energy has warned that diesel prices may increase by P16.50 to P17.50 per liter, while gasoline could rise by P7.50 to P8.50 per liter. Kerosene prices are also expected to climb by P6.90 to P8.90 per liter. Some stations have already reported fuel products reaching around P100 per liter. Last week alone, gasoline prices rose by P12.90 to P16.60 per liter, and diesel increased by P20.40 to P23.90 per liter.