Of Transport Strikes and Oil Price Hikes

Most of the time, our better judgments fail us. We reach a conclusion from a half-baked science experiment and blame others for the fault. We try to foretell trepidation yet we always deal with the trivial matters.

Oil price hikes are getting unstoppable. We toil to keep up with its pace. Major oil players inundate us with the 'Middle East liberation from pseudo-feudalism' reason. A quarter of a peso rollback is matched with two half-a-peso hikes: Filipinos have reached a fairly literate status to understand these burgeons. Capitalists are taking advantage of the situation.

From a researcher's point of view, there is no direct effect between oil trading schemes and the pricing, for the merchantry is protected by the United Nations so the distribution of a primary natural resource such as oil is not, by any means, more tax imposed nor have heightened tariffs.

Earlier today, a transport strike was staged by the Pinag-Isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston) aimed to debilitate the commuting community as to express abhorrence on the continuous oil price advancements. As of this evening, MMDA reported that the strike was unsuccessful.

On personal experience, what I saw carrying out the strike and rally are activists from several schools, most apparently (without judgment) the reformist legs in the University of the Philippines. I turned my back on these students, not because I am not one with their ideals, but there's just a correct avenue for showing these hostilities. I do not agree of their methods.

This is just another half-baked science experiment. Have they really achieved what they wanted? Have the oil keepers changed their prices yet? Most of them companies laughed at the idea of the failed attempt. Others even shrugged. Most of the drivers and operators, who are supposed to be the beneficiaries of this movement, boycotted the cause which is for their good. The futile pursuit ended and it appeared to have been placed in vain.

If we wanted these price hikes to stop, then we should focus on its root, and not on the effect. What these roots are, it might be more intelligible than a mosquito sucking blood from our necks to be known.