In a loud demonstration of dissent, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON)-Cebu chapter, alongside various cause-oriented groups, conducted a noise barrage on the evening of March 24, 2026. The protest unfolded in front of a gasoline station on B. Rodriguez Street in Cebu City, targeting the relentless surge in petroleum product prices that has burdened the local transport sector.
Protest Details and Immediate Impact
Rally participants honked horns and created a cacophony to voice their grievances, with some passing motorists joining in by honking in solidarity. This event was part of a broader mobilization effort leading up to a planned nationwide transport strike scheduled for March 27, as confirmed by PISTON-Cebu President Greg Perez in an exclusive interview with Star FM Cebu.
Government Inaction and Escalating Demands
Perez emphasized that the noise barrage aimed to express deep frustration over what he described as the government's sluggish response to curbing oil price increases. He asserted that their fight will persist until the transportation crisis is adequately addressed, with ongoing efforts to mobilize drivers and operators to defend their rights.
The group outlined five key demands to alleviate the financial strain on transport workers:
- Reduce oil prices to ₱55 per liter based on current supply levels.
- Eliminate VAT and excise taxes to lower prices by ₱20 per liter.
- Implement a ₱5 fare increase to offset operational costs.
- Repeal the Oil Deregulation Law and enforce price controls.
- Nationalize the oil industry, including major companies like Petron.
Broader Economic and Global Context
PISTON-Cebu highlighted the stark contrast between oil companies earning billions of pesos and the ongoing hardships faced by drivers nationwide. Additionally, the group condemned the existing tensions among the United States, Israel, and Iran, citing these geopolitical conflicts as a root cause of rising oil prices in the global market, which exacerbates local economic challenges.
This protest underscores the growing unrest within the transportation sector as stakeholders call for immediate governmental intervention and systemic reforms to combat the fuel crisis.
