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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Provide immediate relief for jeepney drivers, farmers and fisherfolks, workers, and urban poor communities.
5. 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:

Davao Oriental is a beautiful province. It is home to the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mindanao, the Mt. Hamiguitain Range Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS). Its beautiful seascape, including the Pujada, Mayo, and Balete Bay, have also been declared as Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW). In these rich natural frontiers are the unique flora and fauna – most of which are still waiting to be discovered.

However, this natural wonder is consistently being threatened by mining activities. In 2021, the Philippine government approved a Banaybanay Nickel Laterite Mining Project to cover 6,363.3368 hectares of land, spanning Barangays Puntalinao, Causwagan, Pintatagan, Maputi, Panikian, and Mahayag in the Municipality of Banaybanay.

The controversial discoloration of the Mapagba River (banner photo) and nearby river tributaries recently raised concerns among local communities. On January 14, 2022, the said incident occurred after a 12-hour sustained rainfall, giving us a hint of the environmentally-damaging activities upstream. The same phenomenon was documented in an adjacent Barangay Causwagan in December 2020.

Mine tailings pose risk to the livelihood of thousands of people downstream who heavily rely on fishing, rice farming, and tourism. Also, it poses direct threats to the biodiversity in Banaybanay waters, such as the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Moreover, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – Department of Science and Technology (PHILVOLCS-DOST), including the Department of Geophysics in Kyoto University and Department of Geography in Hiroshima University, confirmed that Davao Oriental sits on a 320-km stretch fault line, commonly known as the Surigao-Mati FL. Continued mining will aggravate the threats brought by the fault line.

House Bill 1124 (later substituted by House Bill 6563), otherwise known as the “Davao Oriental Mining-Free Zone Act,” has already been approved by the 18th Congress in June 2021, pending approval by the Senate. This Act encapsulates the “policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” Now is the right time to enact this legislation to prevent any more destruction caused by mining.

We call on the power of the people to help us deter the destruction brought about by mining. Please help us SAVE DAVAO ORIENTAL FROM MINING by signing this online petition for the CANCELLATION OF THE BANAYBANAY NICKEL LATERITE MINING PROJECT.

SIGN THE PETITION