On March 15 oil companies will again implement another round of one-timebig-time oil price increase: 12.00/liter for diesel and P7.00/liter for gasoline. This amounts to a total of P18.00/liter of diesel in just two weeks. This is by far the biggest oil price hike in Philippine history and the biggest since the Oil Deregulation Law was implemented 24 years ago. As usual, transport and agricultural sectors will be hit hard by these series of OPH.
CWS reiterates its previous statement that the series of OPH is unjust and antipoor. In the world market, these price increases are driven by mere speculation brought about by the war in Ukraine. In the Philippines, the current inventory of the big oil companies was purchased at a much lower price yet are sold at a much higher price. In fact, Petro Gazz was able to implement a P5.00/liter rollback in its prices. CWS calls on the government to:
- Act decisively on this issue especially that this will adversely affect the poorest of the poor. In the first place, government should be blamed for these unreasonable increases in fuel prices. In a deregulated oil industry, government control over oil companies is removed or reduced giving oil industries superfluous power to operate more freely, including price adjustments.
- Suspend Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise tax on oil. This will automatically and significantly decrease fuel prices by P50.00 which will provide some sort of relief for consumers already battered by the economic hardship brought about by the pandemic.
- Urge Congress to convene a special session to pass a law suspending VAT and excise tax on oil and junking the 24-year old Oil Deregulation Law.
- Provide immediate relief for jeepney drivers, farmers and fisherfolks, workers, and urban poor communities.
- Implement a nationwide increase in minimum wage.
We call on church-people to stand with the workers, farmers, fisherfolks and jeepney drivers in asserting these demands. Church-people can show their support by actively participating in protest actions such as noise barrage, and posting in various social media platforms. We can flood social media with calls such as “No to Oil Price Hike!”, “Suspend taxes on fuel!”, “Junk Oil Deregulation Law!” “Wage Increase Now!”, “Economic Relief Now!”. We invite church-people to join in a nationwide protest against OPH on March 18. These mounting protests are aimed to pressure the government to act on this pressing issue.
No to Oil Price Hike!
Suspend taxes on fuel!
Junk Oil Deregulation Law!
Wage Increase Now!
Economic Relief to Transport and Agricultural Sectors Now!
Signed:
