Students support people's protest vs oil price hikes

December 13, 2007

The League of Filipino Students (LFS) expressed it support to transport groups and people's organizations in protests vs. oil price hikes today. According to the students, the protests are justified, as the government and oil giants have been "in cahoots for so long in super-overpricing their products" and "robbing billions from the Filipino people."

"The drivers and organizations joining the protests need not worry about whatever inconveniences the transport stoppages will bring. Most students believe that the protests are just and that oil price hikes should be stopped, especially in the light of impending power and water rate increases," said Vencer Crisostomo, LFS national chairperson.

The LFS promised to intensify its information campaign regarding unjust oil price hikes among campuses. The students released posters today explaining the need to stop oil price increases and junk the oil deregulation law.

The posters, with the header: "Bakit hindi makatarungan ang walang ampat na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis?", explained that the oil companies have been overpricing their products by as much as P4 per liter since 2001, and have been raking superprofits of as much as P32B by transfer pricing schemes. It cited figures by Ibon Databank.

The LFS posted a copy of their posters and a primer on the oil price hikes on their website (www.lfs.ph) and vowed to "saturate the cyberspace" with their call to stop oil price increases.  

"We will make the general public understand the sentiments of transport groups and protesters. The people must be united against this grave crime being committed by the Arroyo government and the oil companies, subjecting the country to further abuse and poverty," said Crisostomo.