Drivers, workers announce March 31 people's protest vs. oil price hikes

Drivers led by the Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) and workers led by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) announced in a press conference today that a nationwide people's protest against continuous oil price hikes and the overpricing of petroleum products will be held on March 31.

Since January, oil prices have increased nine times pushing the average price of unleaded gasoline to P54.00, diesel to P45.00, and kerosene to P53.50 in Metro Manila. Major oil companies have been using hikes in oil prices in the world market as excuse for the regular, almost weekly price increases.

“The oil cartel, with the connivance of the Aquino regime, is going too far in sucking the Filipino workers and people dry, that is why we are holding a people’s protest on March 31. In the same manner that the US is exploiting the political crisis in Libya to advance its economic interests, Caltex, Shell and Petron are also exploiting the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa to rake in bigger profits through speculation and overpricing by around P7.50,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“We are calling on the people to join us in the nationwide people’s protest on March 31 which will include transport strikes and transport caravans to show President Aquino and the oil cartel that they cannot deceive and exploit us. Noynoy has so far brushed away all proposals to relieve the people of oil price hikes by scrapping the E-VAT on oil products, putting a stop to continuous oil price hikes by junking the Oil Deregulation Law, and eventually nationalizing the oil industry,” said Joel Maglunsod, Anakpawis Partylist executive vice-president.

Soaring prices, stagnant wages

The labor leaders said the continuous oil price hikes and the overpricing in petroleum products make a significant wage increase all the more urgent and necessary.

“Last December, even before the current round of hikes in the prices of oil and basic commodities, the International Labor Organization is already saying that the wage level in the Philippines is one of the most devastated by the global financial and economic crisis in the world. Filipino workers and families are having an even harder time in making both ends meet, with the current round of increases in the prices of oil and other basic goods,” Labog said.

“We are pushing for the passage of two bills: House Bill 4317 which seeks to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law and House Bill 375 which seeks to legislate a significant wage increase for Filipino workers. These bill, if approved, will give Filipino workers and people a respite from the grinding poverty and hunger in the country today,” said Maglunsod.

Reference: Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson, 0908-1636597
Joel Maglunsod, Anakpawis Partylist exec.vice-pres, 0922-8307275