In response to the climbing prices of diesel and gasoline, a number of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Baclaran staged a protest amid the summer heat on Tuesday morning.

According to PISTON National Coordinator Cerilo Latoreno, PUV drivers felt little to no effect when fuel prices dropped three weeks in a row, as they still had next to nothing to bring back home to their families, reported RH 15 Jecelle Ricafort.

Latoreno said that they would lose over ₱600 every day to soaring diesel prices. He added that they have not benefited from discounts in petroleum products as the ₱10/liter fuel subsidy program is limited to certain routes.

PISTON called on the government to heed their pleas for the suspension of excise taxes on gasoline and diesel, as had been done for kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

They said that if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. truly cared about the transport sector, he should demonstrate this in his remaining years in office.

“‘Yung huling dalawang taon niya, dapat i-serbisyo na niya sa taumbayan,” Latoreno said.

The PISTON Coordinator said 50 drivers in their route have been forced to cease operations due to hefty fuel prices.