Marilyn Cahatol

Members of transport group PISTON and allied organizations under the No to Oil Price Hike Coalition stage a protest rally in Cubao, Quezon City, as part of the nationwide transport strike on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Transport workers urged the government to remove the excise tax and VAT on fuel and to review the Oil Deregulation Law amid rising oil prices. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

TRANSPORT STRIKE- PISTON- CUBAO

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178644493148120260326-transport-strike-cubao-MT9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Members of transport group PISTON and allied organizations under the No to Oil Price Hike Coalition stage a protest rally in Cubao, Quezon City, as part of the nationwide transport strike on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of transport group PISTON and allied organizations under the No to Oil Price Hike Coalition stage a protest rally in Cubao, Quezon City, as part of the nationwide transport strike on Thursday, March 26, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Transport group PISTON held a protest to junk the Oil Deregulation Law or Republic Act 8479, the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, at the House of Representatives on Tuesday. </p><p>Protesters held signs, some of which said: “Kongreso… maglingkod sa bayan! Hindi sa negosyo ng ilan!”</p><p>For PISTON President Mody Floranda, the public has been suffering due to oil companies’ control over prices.</p><p>“Ngayong araw ay mayroong nagaganap na public hearing kaugnay dito sa Oil Deregulation Law at ang plano nila ay amyendahan ‘yung batas… Sa ating mga mamamayan — kundi ito ay nagdulot ng patuloy na pahirap dahil mga oil company na lamang ‘yung nagtatakda ng paggalaw ng presyo dito sa ating bansa,” Floranda said.</p><p>Floranda continued, “Bagamat sinasabi ng Department of Energy na tayo ay mayroong supply at mayroon tayo sa loob ng 50 days hanggang 60 days. Pero ang tanong natin sa gobyerno ay kung mayroon tayong supply, bakit lingguhan na gumagalaw ang presyo? Pagtulog natin nang Lunes, paggising natin nang Martes ay iba na ‘yung presyo ng petrolyo dito sa ating bansa.”</p><p>He also lamented the recent increases in prices of petroleum products.</p><p>“Sa buwan pa lamang mula noong Marso hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay halos umabot na ng P37 o P36 yung pinatong sa bawat litro ng diesel at halos umaabot po ng 29 o hanggang 30 ang pinatong din sa presyo ng gasolina. Dulot pa ito nung iba&#x27;t ibang mga buwis na binabayaran natin sa ilalim ng Oil Deregulation Law at sa ilalim ng excise tax,” Floranda said. </p><p>Tackling of a report on measures seeking to amend RA 8479 was on the agenda of the House Committee on Energy’s meeting on Tuesday afternoon.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/2/senators-want-review-of-oil-deregulation-law-1500">Senators want review of Oil Deregulation Law</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ylZqSKZ7hWA?si=ej_IALz7xEjloElm" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Transport group PISTON held a protest to junk the Oil Deregulation Law or Republic Act 8479, the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.</p>

Transport group PISTON held a protest to junk the Oil Deregulation Law or Republic Act 8479, the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998, at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

PISTON protests against Oil Deregulation Law at House of Representatives

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PISTON protests against Oil Deregulation Law at House of Representatives

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 11, 2026 06:55 PM PHT

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oil deregulation law

House of Representatives

excise tax

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