Nation-wide people's protest vs. high oil prices, VAT, frozen wages today; Measly oil price rollbacks only a smokescreen to supe

Kilusang Mayo Uno, with its member federation PISTON, led various sectors today in a nation-wide people's protest against high oil prices, continued imposition of VAT, and low wages.

Demonstrations were held in various areas of Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Negros, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan De Oro, among other places in the country. In Metro Manila, the protesters converged at Welcome Rotonda, then marched to Mendiola, with a huge sledge hammer smacking mascots of Gloria Arroyo and George Bush in black Santa costumes carrying gifts of economic burdens.

"Arroyo and Bush are out to make our ber-months miserable – we are experiencing the greatest convulsions yet of their skewed economic policies that only secure the interests of the ruling elite," said Elmer Labog, KMU Chairperson.

"Big corporations continue to burden us with high prices of oil and all basic goods, and deny our rightful wage increase, while ensuring to accumulate more profits amid the worsening economy."

Labog added that "Workers who fight for wage hikes and proper benefits, or seek to form unions to protect their rights, become instant victims of mass lay-offs. The government meanwhile espouses migration as an assurance to employment, while more of us are abused in other countries."

Labog also criticized the wave of oil price rollbacks recently bragged about by the oil companies. "The sparse oil rollbacks are only a smokescreen to the continued exploitation of the oil companies, and to the much bigger price cuts we deserve."

Based on the current world market price of $97, diesel pump price should only be P37 – or P11 lower than the present price – because this was the diesel price last November 2007 when Dubai crude was also $97. With this 11-peso overprice, oil companies get an additional P244 million every day from diesel consumption of jeepneys, tricycles and fisherboats alone. (see tables on previous news release)

The government also collects P131 million everyday from VAT based on the current diesel price.

"We should stop being at the mercy of the oil cartel, who play with oil prices to suit their greed and public image. It is high time to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and control the price of oil," Labog added.

"These tough times summon us to our collectively duty to push for the scrapping of exploitative economic policies, to fight for a society that truly responds to the welfare and interests of the people." ###