INSTEAD of five days as initially planned, transport group United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc) has announced over the weekend that they will conduct a two-day strike from March 21 to 22.Dubbed “People’s Holiday,” the strike is aimed at expressing discontent over the continued increases in oil prices and to call for the deferment of the 12 percent value added tax (VAT) on fuels, its secretary general Diego Malacad said.Malacad said that the Sentrong Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Negros (Sstone) and Federation of Bacolod Drivers Association (Febacda) are also joining the strike contrary to what has been reported earlier.“Aside from protesting against the unabated fuel price hike, the transport sector will also call for the suspension of the excise tax on fuels,” he said, adding that the strike was agreed upon during their unity forum with various sectors held last week.For her part, Febacda President Elizabeth Katalbas said they are hoping to cripple hundred percent of the transportation during the two-day strike so that the national government will see their situation.“But, we will not seek a fare increase despite the hike in fuel costs,” she assured.Meanwhile, Sstone chairman Albert Villanueva urged the public to bear with them while the strike is ongoing because the increasing fuel prices is everyone’s concern.Villanueva stressed that they will conduct their transport strike peacefully and will police their members.On top of the issues on fuel price hike and value added tax on these products, the transport leaders in Negros Occidental is pushing for the release of their P6,500 fuel subsidy from the national government to somehow ease the present situation.The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in a statement last week, said that P2.5 billion has been released to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the subsidy which will be released either through cash or be converted into fuel starting tomorrow, March 15.More than 377,000 beneficiaries in the sector are expected to receive the subsidy.Those who are qualified for the subsidy included jeepneys, mini buses, UV express, taxis, and tricycle drivers as well as those who are driving transport network vehicle service (TNVS), motorcycle and delivery services.Meanwhile, an increase between P11.75 and P11.95 per liter for diesel, P6.90 to P7.20 per liter for gasoline, and P9.70 to P9.80 per liter of kerosene is expected to take place this week according to industry sources.*