MANILA, Philippines – Public utitlity jeepney drivers from the Southern Tagalog region are holding a transport strike Wednesday to protest the spate of oil price hikes in the past weeks.

Transport groups Starter Piston and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Timog Katagalugan (BAYAN-TK) urged their members to join the strike, which aims to paralyze transportation in Barangay Mamatig, Cabuyao and Barangay Halang, Calamba, both in Laguna.

Around 80% of the total number of jeepneys are expected to go on strike today, said BAYAN-TK Secretary General XL Fuentes in a statement.

The groups said the strikes will be intensified over the coming days in anticipation of President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25.

Fuentes also blamed the inaction of the Aquino administration to ease the burden caused by the fuel hikes to the consumers.

"Malinaw ang kiling ng pamahalaan ni Aquino: maka-kapitalista, maka-dayuhan at anti-mamamayan. Kung tutuusin may kapangyarihan si Aquino na tanggalin ang mga batas katulad ng oil-deregulation law at E-VAT sa langis, subalit dahil siya ay maka-kapitalista hinahayaan lamang niya ito sa kabila ng kahirapang naidudulot ng mga ito sa mamamayan,” he said.

Following Tuesday’s oil price hike by Pilipinas Shell, Chevron, Eastern Petroleum Philippines and PTT, transport group Pasang Masda wants the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to raise the minimum fare for jeepneys to P8.50 from the current P8.00.

Last Tuesday’s fuel hike is the 20th since January, according to Fuentes.

After the strike, the groups will hold a noise barrage at 4:00 p.m. Other jeepney drivers are also planning to hold strikes in Batangas, Lucena and Bacoor, Cavite. – Report from Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News