Women riders hold unity ride for empowerment and fuel subsidy

 

As part of the buildup for the commemoration of International Women's Day, the riders’ group Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong) will hold a unity ride this afternoon from C. P. Garcia in UP Diliman to the People Power Monument. The event will highlight Kagulong's advocacy for women's empowerment and against gender discrimination. Also the group will reiterate its call for fuel subsidies for app riders.

 

“Women riders experience discrimination from police officers in checkpoints as well as from the public and fellow riders. Our ‘Women Can Ride, Women Can Lead’ advocacy aims to combat gender discrimination and promote women’s empowerment,” stated Yang Umali, Kagulong Women’s Collective spokesperson.

 

The group also insisted on its call for immediate release of fuel subsidies for jeepney drivers and app riders. “We are asking the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to meet with riders in order to clarify its plan to distribute fuel subsidies. Riders shoulder the weekly gasoline price increases and thus deserve ayuda,” Umali said.

 

She also added that the group is supporting the call of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan for the temporary suspension of the excise taxes on oil products to reduce pump prices. The suspension is provided for under the TRAIN law but subject to certain conditions. “We believe that the extreme difficulties brought about by the weekly oil price increases for more than two months already are more than enough as supervening conditions for the suspension of excise taxes. This will benefit jeepney drivers and operators, app riders, farmers and fishers principally and the rest of the people too as oil prices impact the whole economy,” Umali explained.

 

Kagulong is actively supporting the tandem of Vice President Robredo and Senator Pangilinan for their commitment to the riders’ agenda and track record of participatory good governance. “Aangat ang buhay ng riders sa isang gobyernong tapat sa partisipasyon ng nasa laylayan sa pamamahala,” Umali averred.

 

She added that while it welcomes the DoTr announcement that people engaged in full-time ride-hailing and delivery services are entitled to the fuel subsidy, there is no transparency in the plan. “In the first place, the DoTr does not know if the registered motorcycle owner is using his or her vehicle for platform work. Not even the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is aware of this due to the informal nature of the freelancer or independent contractor relationship. Only the apps know who their riders are. A social dialogue should involve all stakeholders so riders would have voice and participation,” Umali concluded.

 

The group declared that if riders were treated as employees not freelancers then ayuda provision would be much easier, similar to how workers were granted ayuda under CAMP or SBWS. The employment status of riders has been the subject of controversy, even sparking protests amidst the pandemic and prompting the DOLE to issue an “advisory” on the issue. 

March 6, 2022

Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong)