09/04/2026
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏโ๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ
With their chant โSa laban ng tsuper, kasama ang komyuter,โ Lousian progressive groups clamored for concrete solutions from the government to address rising fuel prices at Saint Louis University (SLU) Covered Court Parking, Gate 2 yesterday, April 8.
Kataas-taasang Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral/Student Supreme Council (KASAMA/SSC) Executive Secretary Ziegmond Soliman kicked off the protest, pointing out the effects of the continuous oil price hike on both commuters and students, emphasizing that the sectors of students, workers, and drivers should not bear the burden for problems caused by government policies.
โHindi dapat nagkokompromiso ang mga sektor ng kabataan, ang mga sektor ng manggagawa, ang mga sektor ng ating mga tsuper para lamang makatulong sa mga problemang ginawa mismo ng gobyerno,โ Soliman stated.
Moreover, Anakbayan SLU representative Jako Galeon criticized the imperialist practice of the United States of America (USA) and the Philippine government's lack of action to relieve the burdens of the Filipinos amidst this crisis, where he slammed the encouragement of the government that Filipinos practice resiliency.
โMabuti pa si Marcos Jr. dahil sabi ng Malacaรฑang, wala siyang iniindang sakit pero tayong mga simpleng mamamayan ay araw-araw na [may] iniindaโmga tsuper at komyuter na hirap sa pamasahe, mga manggagawang babad sa trabaho pero kakarampot lamang ang sahod, mga g**o at estudyanteng nagtitipid araw-araw, at bawat pamilyang Pilipino na pilit na pinagkakasya ang kakarampot na kita,โ he said.
Furthermore, Eugene Enciso, regional coordinator of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) Cordillera, highlighted the lack of urgency by government agencies Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) regarding the need to increase the base fare of jeepneys.
โKahit malinaw na nagkakaisa kayo ng tsuper at mga drayber, kabagalan at kainutilan ang tugon ng LTFRB at DOTr sa kanilang pending approval ng temporary fare hike. Ano na lang po ang iuuwi at ipangpakain ng mga tsuper kung hindi itataas sa kasalukuyan nang temporary ang pamasahe?โ he said.
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๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐,โ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Carlito Wayas, chairperson of Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) Metro Baguio, mentioned the worsening conditions of small jeepney drivers and operators, voicing out the need to junk VAT and excise taxes on oil, abolish the deregulation law, and regulate oil prices, where he also called out the governmentโs failure to provide meaningful solutions regarding this crisis.
โPanawagan ng PISTON Metro Baguio ay alisin ang excise tax, alisin ang 12% E-VAT, ibalik ang presyo ng langis sa 55/liter, at tanggalin na po โyong oil deregulation law na siyang ginagamit ng mga kartel ng langis at dahilan ng gobyernong ito na wala na silang magagawa dahil deregulated na raw,โ Wayas stated.
In an interview, Wayas shared that while drivers previously earned up to โฑ800 to โฑ1,000 daily, some now take home as little as โฑ200 to โฑ300, which is not enough to meet daily needs.
He also described fare hikes as only a โband-aid solutionโ rather than a long-term fix, saying, โAng panawagan kasi namin ay hindi solusyon na tuwing tataas โyong presyo ng langis ay hihingi ka ng karagdagang pasahe kasi band-aid solution lang โyon. Ang kailangan nga natin [ay] โyong solusyon na pangmatagalan.โ
Lastly, he called for unity among drivers and operators, saying the governmentโs jeepney modernization program weakens their solidarity and shifts control of the transport system to corporations, and expressed gratitude to the youth for supporting the drivers in their call for systemic change.
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๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
Following the release of Administrative Memo No. 14 by the SLU Administration last April 7, Louisian students voiced out their thoughts regarding the new modality amid this crisis.
Nicole Del Castillo, Walang Iwanan Louisian Network (WILN) spokesperson, concluded the protest, emphasizing that the administration needs to ensure that the tagline โno students left behindโ will be observed in the new modality, considering the access to internet and academic weight.
โIpatupad ang asynchronous options sa online setup dahil alam naman po natin na hindi po lahat ay may pribilehiyo para magkaroon ng access sa mabilis na internet para makapasok agad sa klaseโฆ โWag na po nating dagdagan at bagsakan pa ng sunod-sunod na quizzes at exam ang mga estudyante sa pagbabalik ng onsite classes. At pinapanawagan din po natin na magkaroon ng malinaw na grace period na ipapatupad ng OSAS at ng VP for Academic Affairs sa bawat face-to-face classes dahil sa laban po na ito, walang estudyante ang dapat na naiiwan kahit isa,โ Del Castillo said.
Furthermore, in an interview, Jesamine Ramolete, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance of Students for Integrated Governance (DASIG), raised concerns over the administrationโs claim of student consultation in the shift.
She pointed out that student leaders were invited at the last minute without formal notice, preventing meaningful participation in the decision-making process, saying, โSaan doon โyong part na naisama โyong mga hinaing ng students? Was that really consolidated well? โYong mga sensing form na ginamit natin sa mga student government, talaga bang na-utilize โyon para magawa โyong modality na pinost nila?โ
She further called for more humane and inclusive policies, urging the administration and the government to address systemic gaps rather than shifting the burden onto students and emphasized โcollective action,โ calling on students and Filipinos to unite and voice their concerns amid the crisis.
By Marielle Barela and Keziah Mae Tingga-an
Photos by Krysanthe Castro
