Around 20 to 30 members of transport group PISTON-NCR staged a protest at the Pasig Mega Market on Tuesday, April 21, as part of what they described as a continuing “Protesta ng Bayan” that may last until Labor Day on May 1.

According to a report on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan by a RH Edniel Parrosa, the group gathered to air grievances over government transport policies, even after the implementation of a diesel price rollback of more than ₱20 earlier in the day.

Protesters also called out what they described as the government’s insufficient response to the ongoing crisis faced by public utility vehicle drivers.

PISTON-NCR also criticized the service contracting program recently launched by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday, April 20, which is intended to subsidize drivers’ income in exchange for offering discounted fares to commuters.

In an interview with DZRH News, PISTON-NCR leader Eli Villena said the program appears selective and excludes drivers who opted not to join the government’s transport modernization program.

Villena said the initiative is creating division among drivers and operators who chose not to consolidate into cooperatives or surrender their franchises.

“Buhat doon sa sinasabi nilang service contracting na ‘yan parang pinag-aaway-ayaw alnag kami talaga ng gobyerno. Pinipili lang nila, ilang lang ang kinukuha," Villena said.

"Kung talagang para sa amin yan sana lahat ibinibigay sa amin ang proyekto na ‘yan, pero ilan lang ba? Sa isang ronda may apat na pisa may isa, may dalawa,” he added.

The group also carried placards calling for wage increases for workers.

Despite the protest, PISTON-NCR members did not block passing jeepneys. Some motorists were observed showing support by giving small amounts of money to the protesters.