MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - Traffic on España Boulevard came to a standstill on Monday for several minutes after members of the leftist League of Filipino Students decided to lie face down in the middle of the busy thoroughfare to protest rising fuel prices.

A radio DZMM report said LFS members conducted the "planking" protest for 10 minutes at the corner of M. Dela Fuente Street corner España Boulevard in support of the ongoing transport strike conducted by some members of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON). The Lying Down Game or the so-called Planking, where people are photographed face down with stiffened arms and legs, has become a fad in some parts of the world.

The ralliers later left the area upon the request of Superintendent Jemar Modiquillo, Manila Police District Station 4 chief. The group proceeded to Welcome Rotonda where they conducted a short program before dispersing.

In a statement. LFS national chairman Terry Ridon said the group will conduct more planking activities in the future, this time to protest budget cuts in state colleges and universities.

He also criticized Transport Secretary Mar Roxas for telling students not to participate in the transport strike.

Roxas earlier appealed to youth groups not to make  a big issue of the transport strike by disrupting traffic. "Sa hindi sa transport sector, huwag na natin palakihin ito," he said.

Ridon said planking is a creative way by which the students are supporting the transport strike.

"Sec. Roxas statement is most unfortunate, because he himself fervently solicits student support whenever he needs a dose of political legitimacy," he said.

Meanwhile, radio dzMM reports said traffic remains heavy on EDSA (North EDSA to Buendia ) not due to the ongoing transport strike but because of the heavy volume of vehicles as a result of the lifting of the number coding scheme.

A dzMM report said some 100 jeepney drivers assembled near Monumento, Caloocan and jeered at fellow drivers who did not participate in the strike. The report said stranded motorists were immediately ferried to their destinations by buses and trucks deployed by the Metro Manila Development Authority.

A separate report said another rally at Old Sta. Mesa caused slight congestion but did not affect the normal route of jeepneys.

DZMM reported some PISTON members in Parañaque jeered at jeepney drivers and called them "buwaya" for not joining the transport strike. Some FX drivers also gave the ralliers bread and spare change.

The Metro Manila Development Authority earlier deployed 65 buses to give free rides to commuters affected by the transport strike. The MMDA also lifted the number coding scheme in Metro Manila except in Makati and Las Piñas.

Strikers are pressuring the government to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and lift the expanded sales tax on petroleum products.