People's protests against oil price hikes and overpricing

 

BATODA/Batasan Terminal, Commonwelath, QC

 

March 15,  2012

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Photos by Arkibong Bayan and Amihan Euza at indicated by the filenames
           
     
Gabriela Women Partylist Rep. Emmi de Jesus
     

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REFERENCES:
LARRY TAN, Spokesperson
Koalisyon ng Progresibong Manggagawa at Mamamayan (KPMM)
09164026465

FERDIE GAITE, Chairperson, COURAGE
09208515163

ELMER “BONG” LABOG, Kilusang Mayo Uno
09081636597
PRESS STATEMENT: MARCH 15, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thousands join widespread People’s Protests vs oil price hikes and overpricing

Thousands affected by weekly oil price hikes and overpricing of petroleum products joined protest actions today, March 15, World Consumer Rights Day. Widespread people’s protests covered practically the whole of Metro Manila with more than 30 protest centers organized by the Koalisyon ng Progresibong Manggagawa at Mamamayan (KPMM) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN).

“For how long must Malacanang play deaf and blind to the public’s suffering?” said Ferdie Gaite, chairperson of leading government-employee confederation COURAGE.

“Malacanang should stop making routine its yapping and making a big fuss out of the supposed inconveniences protest actions cause to the public. What’s very clear now is that an enraged public is greatly inconvenienced by soaring oil prices and will take no more lame excuses from the government,” Gaite said. COURAGE is a participating organization under KPMM.

“Until Aquino rouses from his pathetic helplessness, we shall launch more actions because we definitely demand action,” said Larry Tan, KPMM spokesperson.

To quell effects of oil price hikes and overpricing, the KPMM has called for the suspension of the E-VAT on oil. The coalition also called for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, which has allowed oil cartels and foreign monopolies to bring home superprofits in the name of “free competition.” Since the Oil Deregulation Law was implemented, overpricing in the price of diesel in the country has been estimated at P8.60. Extra profits that oil firms earn from overpricing the local pump price of diesel alone, is estimated at P147 million a day.

KPMM noted that the consensus forged between progressive groups and certain lawmakers in yesterday’s People-Legislators’ Forum held at the House of Representatives, shows that the government is not at all “helpless” on the issue of oil prices.

“There are now more pending oil regulation bills in Congress than the fingers could count. With correct priorities and enough political will, Aquino can easily use his powers to protect the people from the overly greedy oil cartel and foreign oil monopolies,” said Tan.

“Despite the clamor, Malacanang maintains its disapproval to the suspension of the VAT on oil. It is because government rakes in premium revenues with every oil price hike – a staggering estimated amount of P62 million pesos a day and only from diesel alone – at the expense of the ordinary consumer,” said Bong Labog, KMU Chairperson. “With his inaction, Aquino simply identifies who his real ‘bosses’ are – the oil cartel and foreign oil monopoly,” Labog added.

“Token measures such as Conditional Cash Transfers and Pantawid Pasada cards do nothing but insult the people, and make a mockery of the very legitimate demand to break away from years of being under the mercy of the oil cartel and foreign monopoly control. It is time to junk the Oil Deregulation Law, and punish the big-time burglars behind the oil cartels,” said Labog.

“For the government to truly work for the people’s welfare, it must reverse economic policies favoring foreign monopolies, and take serious steps towards the nationalization of the oil industry,” Labog added.

“Today is just the beginning of more protests,” Tan stressed. #

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REFERENCES:
LARRY TAN, Spokesperson
Koalisyon ng Progresibong Manggagawa at Mamamayan (KPMM)
Contact No. 0916-4026465

FERDIE GAITE, Chairperson, COURAGE
Contact No. 0920-8515163

BONG LABOG, Chairperson, Kilusang Mayo Uno
Contact No. 0908-1636597

PRESS STATEMENT: MARCH 15, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KPMM slams Palace disinformation drive re oil price issue
and today’s successful People’s Protests

The Koalisyon ng Progresibong Manggagawa at Mamamayan (KPMM) criticized government efforts to undermine today’s widespread multi-sectoral People’s Protests against oil price hikes and overpricing. Despite various forms of protest actively launched by different sectoral organizations and communities led by the KPMM and BAYAN in over 30 protest centers across Metro Manila and several major cities in the country, Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda described today’s protests as a mere “transport caravan” organized by a minority from the transport sector and meant only to paralyze traffic and inconvenience the public.

“Malacanang simply wishes to sidestep the issue and avoid responsibility by sowing confusion and disinformation to the public. Instead of directly addressing the issue of oil price hikes and overpricing, government went out of its way to scare commuters by portraying today’s people’s protest as a ‘perhuwisyo” transport strike,” said Larry Tan, KPMM spokesperson. “Why can’t government act with that kind of speed and enthusiasm when it comes to actually protecting the public from oil price hikes and overpricing?”

“May overpricing na, may overacting government pa. Instead of heeding the call to regulate oil prices, the government responded with chismis, rumors and threats,” said Anakbayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo.

Thousands affected by weekly oil price hikes and overpricing of petroleum products joined protest actions today, March 15, coinciding with World Consumer Rights Day. The transport caravan led by transport group PISTON, which covered the route from the Quezon City Circle to the offices of Chevron and Shell in Makati, is but one of the many forms of protest initiated by various sectors for today’s People’s Protests.

Before noon, thousands of employees under the confederation COURAGE walked-out of their government offices around the QC Circle to protest oil price hikes. School walk-outs, snake marches, and noise barrages were held since morning and will be replicated later in the afternoon in different protest centers in Manila, Quezon City and Caloocan, by ANAKBAYAN, urban poor group KADAMAY and women’s group GABRIELA, all active members of KPMM and BAYAN.

“The transport sector is obviously not the only sector affected by oil price hikes,” said Tan. “Lacierda even lashed at (transport group) PISTON for not pushing for a fare hike. We must even commend all drivers who joined today’s widespread protests, and their efforts to highlight the plight of all other workers, employees, the urban poor, women and the youth. All affected sectors must hold the oil cartel and government collusion accountable for swindling the Filipino people,” Tan stressed.

“Lacierda’s divisive insinuation against PISTON reveals that Malacanang aims to weaken our unity for our very legitimate demands. Government seems to want us, the people, fighting and scratching each other for our very survival. Until Aquino rouses from his pathetic helplessness, we shall launch more actions because we definitely demand action,” said Tan.

“It is time to junk the Oil Deregulation Law, and punish the big-time burglars behind the oil cartels,” said Bong Labog, KMU Chairperson. “Working for the people’s welfare does not mean deploying hordes of policemen and standby trucks in the event of protest actions. Government must address the real issues head on. It must reverse economic policies favoring foreign monopolies, and take serious steps towards the nationalization of the oil industry,” Labog added. #
 
Galit stickers on tricycles
     
     
     
     
           
     
     
     

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Protests against high oil prices to mark March 15 World Consumer Rights Day

Posted on 11 March 2012 by admin

News Release

March 12, 2012

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan will join various groups in protest actions on March 15, World Consumer Rights Day. The militant group will be protesting continued increases in oil prices and what it decried as “government inaction”.

“It’s time for consumers to take a stand against the weekly oil prices increases and government callousness and inaction. The Aquino government should act now to lower oil prices and provide relief for the overburdened consumers,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“It is not true that government is helpless. There is now the growing clamor to scrap, suspend or reduce the Value Added Tax on oil. There are pending bills in Congress that seek to control the prices of petroleum products amid bloated international and domestic prices. Our protest aims to press government to stop making excuses and address the problems of the consumers,” he added

For the sixth straight week, oil prices are expected to go up again this time by 25 centavos per liter. With the increase in oil prices, government is also expected to announce this week a 50 centavo provisional fare hike for jeepney drivers.

“Oil consumers are faced with bloated global and local oil prices. On top of this, government imposes an oppressive 12% value added tax on oil. The VAT on oil is unjust considering that the government is earning windfall revenues from manipulated oil prices and the peoples’ suffering. That’s adding insult to injury,” Reyes said.

“There are several pending bills for the removal of the VAT. All it takes it political will from the administration. If they can muster 188 votes for the impeachment, why not do the same for the repeal, suspension or reduction of the VAT? The ball is in Malacanang’s court now,” he added.

Bayan argued that it is time to review and repeal the Oil Deregulation Law given the abuses in pricing here and abroad. The group said that the surge in global oil prices can be attributed to a combination of monopoly pricing and price speculation in commodity futures. The group said world oil prices could be bloated by as much as 70% compared to their actual production cost.

Bayan also said that the deregulation of the oil industry gives too much leeway for the oil firms to set their prices, even above the already bloated world market prices.

Different methodologies point out that the price movements in the country are faster and bigger than the prices movements in the world market.  A study by Ibon Foundation shows that oil prices in the Philippines moved at a faster rate of 20-22% compared to world price movements. Estimates of domestic ‘overpricing’ have ranged from P8.61 for diesel to P16.83 for gasoline based on studies by BAYAN on a rule of thumb for Dubai crude and foreign exchange fluctuations. Meanwhile, a 2009 NEDA presentation using straight-line interpolation showed an unexplained discrepancy between global and local price movements amounting to P6.91 to P8.69/liter for premium and unleaded gasoline. ###

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Lawmakers, progressive groups forge consensus on VAT on oil, deregulation

Posted on 13 March 2012 by admin

News Release

March 14, 2012

Members of the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and lawmakers from the House of Representatives held a forum today to discuss the issue of high oil prices and possible solutions to ease the burden on consumers. The forum comes a day before a scheduled protest against high oil prices on March 15, World Consumer Rights Day.

“We believe that government must step in and do something about high oil prices, whether this is through the removal, suspension or reduction of the VAT on oil, or via more thoroughgoing measures such as the review and repeal of the deregulation law. We believe that it is not a helpless and hopeless situation if only government shows political will and concern for the people. The people are protesting. Government should listen,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

The group said that the most immediate action government can undertake is related to the VAT on oil. “There appears to be a broad consensus that the VAT on oil cannot remain as it is now, not when local oil prices threaten to reach their highest levels since 2008. Government cannot take a hard-line stance on this. The people are suffering and all we get are excuses and insensitive remarks,” Reyes added.

Bayan said that removing the VAT will provide direct and immediate benefits to some 426,000 jeepney drivers, 581,000 tricycle drivers, and 8.6 million households that use LPG for cooking. Oil will go down by as much as P6-7.00 per liter. Several bills related to the VAT on oil filed by different lawmakers remain pending with the House of Representatives.

The militant group also pushed for a review and repeal of the oil deregulation law citing the existence of a cartelized oil industry that has given rise to anomalies in the pricing schemes of oil companies. Bayan is supporting the passage of HB 4355 filed by partylist group Bayan Muna which seeks to regulate the oil industry.

“Globally and locally, there are issues on how oil is priced. There’s the view that a cartelized industry has enabled the oil firms to arbitrarily raise prices way beyond the actual production costs. This is then aggravated by intense speculation in commodity futures. This is then further aggravated by the questionable pricing schemes done by local oil companies. A deregulated environment legitimizes all these questionable practices,” Reyes said.

“Locally, 80% of the pump stations are owned by the ‘Big 3’ oil companies. Furthermore, various studies suggest that these companies have priced their products on top of the bloated price movements in the world market. It’s sort of a double whammy for consumers,” he added.

Different methodologies point out that the price movements in the country are faster and bigger than the prices movements in the world market.  A study by Ibon Foundation shows that oil prices in the Philippines moved at a faster rate of 20-22% compared to world price movements. Estimates of domestic ‘overpricing’ have ranged from P8.61 for diesel to P16.83 for gasoline based on studies by BAYAN on a rule of thumb for Dubai crude and foreign exchange fluctuations. An April 2009 NEDA presentation using straight line interpolation showed an unexplained discrepancy between global and local price movements amounting to P6.91 to P8.69/liter for premium and unleaded gasoline. ###

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Nationwide protests: Bayan slams Palace for callousness amid oil price increases

Posted on 14 March 2012 by admin

News Release

March 15, 2012

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the Koalisyon ng Makabayang Manggawa at Mamamayan today spearheaded protest actions against rising petroleum prices and “government inaction”. The protest also coincided with World Consumer Rights Day.

“Malacanang has said more about how they are going to deal with protesters than how they are going to deal wih the problem of high oil prices. The Palace, as usual, excels in overreaction but fails to address the reasons for the protest. It has no concrete and thoroughgoing plan to address the impact of rising petroleum prices. Consumers are fed up with this government’s callousness,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

Bayan said that no transport strike was being held in Metro Manila.  They believe that it was government that was making the hype in order to distract and divide people over the alleged incovenience that the strike will generate. The announced deployment of police and soldiers may also be intended to intimidate protesters.

“OA sila pagdating sa protesta, pero inutil pagdating sa totoong problema,” he added.

The group however said that vigorous protests will be taking place in various points in Metro Manila, near work places, transport terminals, and schools.

Bayan will join the 1,450-strong BATODA or Batasan Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association at their Batasan Road terminal for a program and noise barrage. At the terminal, a huge streamer with the words “BATODA galit sa mataas na presyo ng langis!” hung near the entrance. The tricycle drivers parked at the terminal held several noise barrages while waiting for passengers and listening to speakers.

VAT callousness

The militant group also scored Malacanang for its intransigence over the 12% VAT on oil. The Palace issued a statement that the VAT is necessary to build government’s revenue base so that its cost of borrowing will go down and make room for social investment.

“It is clear that the VAT issue is about debt first, and services a far second. Malacanang does not want to give up this International Monetary Fund imposed revenue measure because it wants to keep paying its creditors. It wants to maintain our current credit rating. It’s all about debt and not about providing social services,” Reyes said.

“For all the claims that it is different from the Arroyo regime, the Aquino regime has used every argument in the GMA playbook. The callousness is quite the same,” he added.

Bayan said that the growing consensus among protesters, legislators and economists is that the 12% VAT on oil cannot stay as is. Many sectors have proposed either the reduction, suspension or scrapping of the VAT on oil because of its impact on already high oil prices.

The militant group also pushed for a review and repeal of the oil deregulation law citing the existence of a cartelized oil industry that has given rise to anomalies in the pricing schemes of oil companies.

“Globally and locally, there are issues on how oil is priced. There is the view that a cartelized industry has enabled the oil firms to arbitrarily raise prices way beyond the actual production costs. This is then aggravated by intense speculation in commodity futures. This is then further aggravated by the questionable pricing schemes done by local oil companies. A deregulated environment legitimizes all these questionable practices,” Reyes said.

“Locally, 80% of the pump stations are owned by the ‘Big 3’ oil companies. Furthermore, various studies suggest that these companies have priced their products on top of the bloated price movements in the world market. It’s sort of a double whammy for consumers,” he added.

Different methodologies point out that the price movements in the country are faster and bigger than the prices movements in the world market.  A study by Ibon Foundation shows that oil prices in the Philippines moved at a faster rate of 20-22% compared to world price movements. Estimates of domestic ‘overpricing’ have ranged from P8.61 for diesel to P16.83 for gasoline based on studies by BAYAN on a rule of thumb for Dubai crude and foreign exchange fluctuations. An April 2009 NEDA presentation using straight line interpolation showed an unexplained discrepancy between global and local price movements amounting to P6.91 to P8.69/liter for premium and unleaded gasoline. ##

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BAYAN’S reaction to Lacierda’s statements on oil protests

Posted on 15 March 2012 by admin

Press Statement

March 15, 2012

Renato M. Reyes, Jr. Secretary General

Mr. Lacierda’s statement on the oil protests betrays his utter contempt for the people. It’s both arrogant and insensitive. He calls protests “perwisyo” and claims these divert from meaningful discourse on the issues. He is oblivious to the plight of many Filipinos reeling from high oil prices. By the way, it is a “peoples protest”, not limited to transport groups and participated in by different sectors in different protest centers.

Mr. Lacierda, we’re prepared to engage you in any type of discourse on the issue of oil and taxes. The problem with you and the administration is you never listen. This is the reason why people have no other recourse but to protest and air their grievances, a right that is guaranteed by the Consitutiton.

The protests will continue until government responds the people’s demands. Mr. Lacierda, ang totoong perwisyo dito ay ang mataas na presyo ng langis, ang VAT at ang deregulation law. Learn it before making absurd remarks.

Download: Bayan's gabay sa pagtalakay ng presyo ng langis

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PRESS RELEASE MARCH 15, 2012

PAMBANSANG PROTESTA LABAN SA PAGTAAS SA PRESYO NG LANGIS AT HKAHIRAPAN:
IBA`T-IBANG SEKTOR SA TIMOG KATAGALUGAN NAGKAISA KONTRA SA PATULOY NA PAGTAAS SA PRESYO NG PRODUKTONG PETROLYO AT PATULOY NA KAHIRAPAN

CALAMBA LAGUNA—Nakikiisa ang rehiyon ng timog-katagalugan sa pambansang protesta laban sa patuloy na pagtaas sa presyo ng produktong petrolyo. Pinangungunahan ngayon ng STARTER ang pangrehiyunal na tsapter ng PISTON sa timog katagalugan ang paglulunsad ng isang transport caravan at protestang bayan. Nagsimula ang caravan sa San Pedro Laguna at mayroong mga whistlestop sa bawat bayan hanggang Crossing Calamba.

Ito ang sagot ng mga driver at operator sa lingguhang pagtaas sa produktong petrolyo. Pinakahuling nagtaas sa presyo ng langis noong Marso 8, ng P 0.60 kada litro at noong Marso 2, ng P0.50 kada litro.

Ayon kay Ariel Maraya, tagapangulo ng STARTER-PISTON, “ang patuloy na pagtataas sa presyo ng produktong petrolyo ay nangangahulugan ng ibayong kahirapan sa sector ng transportasyon at malawak na hanay ng mamamayan, samantalang ang malalaking korporasyon ay nagkakamal ng bilyo-bilyong kita.”

Pinupunto ng grupo na pangunahing nagiging ligal na batayan sa ganitong mga pagtaas ang oil deregulation law na sinasabing maka-lapitalista. Dagdag rin na pahirap at sa katunayan ay ginagawang overpriced ang produktong petrolyo dahil sa paniningil ng 12% E-VAT sa langis.

Samantala, umaani naman ng suporta ang pambansang protesta sa rehiyon. Ayon sa Pangakalahatang Kalihim ng Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Timog Katagalugan (BAYAN-TK) na si xL Fuentes, “Nakikiisa ngayong araw ang iba`t-ibang sektor sa timog-katagalugan sa pambansang protesta laban sa kahirapan, sa katunayan sa Laguna pa lamang ay mayroong mga mga protestang bayan ng San Pedro, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, Los Banos at Sta Cruz.“

Inaasahan ring lalabas sa kanilang mga klase ang mga kabataan sa UP Los Banos bilang pakikiisa sa sector ng transportasyon. Ayon pa kay Third Alub ng LFS-UPLB, nakikiisa ang mga kabataan sa paglaban sa patuloy na pagtaas sa presyo ng langis at bilihin. Paliwanag ni Alub,”Unawa namin ang hirap ng buhay, mahal na matrikula at maging ang pancit canton na pambansang ulam ng mga estudyanteng nagtitipid ay tumaas din ang presyo. Samantalang ang mga dayuhang korporasyon katulad ng CALTEX, PETRON at SHELL ay nagpapakasasa sa pera ng mamamayan. ”

Pinapaabot din ng grupo ang pagkabahala sa posibleng pagtaas ng pamasahe, tumitindig sila na hindi dapat pagbanggain ang interes ng drayber at commuters, sa katunayan ang tunay na solusyon ay ang pagtatanggal sa 12% EVAT sa langis, pagpapabasura sa oil deregulation law at pagsasabansa sa industriya ng langis.

Aasahan ng gubyernong Aquino at ng mga dayuhang korporasyon sa langis ang susunod na bugso ng protesta kapag nagpatuloy pa rin ang ganitong kalakaran sa industriya ng langis. Ayon kina Maraya at Fuentes, hindi magdadalawang isip ang rehiyon ng timog-katagalugan na magkasa ng Tigil Pasada sa darating na mga araw kung patuloy pa rin ang pagtataas sa presyo ng petrolyo.


References: Ariel Maraya, 0921-533-8547
xL Fuentes,092-8066-248
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Aquino Administration Sings Same Tune As Arroyo in Defending VAT on Oil -- GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus

GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY
NEWS RELEASE
March 8, 2012

Ref:
Rep. Emmi De Jesus, 0917-3221203
Rowena Festin, 0915-6349308

"President Aquino has repeatedly dissociated itself from the corruption and anti-people policies of former president Gloria Arroyo. How come when it comes to the issue of VAT, he actually sings the same tune as the former president in his administration's defense of VAT on oil?" asked Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Emmi De Jesus.

Palace spokesperson Abigail Valte was earlier quoted as saying that "if a funding source was removed, certain government programs would lose funds."

"Let me remind President Aquino that the Arroyo government used the justification of needing the RVAT as a revenue measure supposedly to fund much needed social services. Yet, in the 2007 budget, real public spending for education fell to PhP 1,331.00 per Filipino from PhP 1 ,503.00 in 2002. Government budget for health also decreased in real terms to just PhP 111.78 per Filipino. Clearly, the generation of RVAT as sources of revenue was never meant to adequately fund social services as out of the total of PhP367.28 billion generated from November 2005 until December 2009, less than 3% were allocated 109 for social services," remarked the Gabriela solon.

"Why is the Aquino administration so afraid of removing VAT from oil and basic commodities that poor Filipinos consume on a daily basis, when it has never questioned the tax incentives and exemptions on VAT the government has given to foreign corporations? Instead of burdening the poor with increases in taxes, the Aquino government should review the tax exemptions being provided to large corporations, including foreign mining corporations," Rep. De Jesus proposed.

"As a solon whose constituency are the largely marginalized women and children from urban poor, peasant and worker families, I am duty-bound to continue to push for the exemption of VAT from oil and basic commodities that poor Filipinos consume on a daily basis. This is the rationale behind the proposed bill HB 4704, one of those bills gaining dust since it was filed last March 24, 2011," the solon explained.

"I challenge President Aquino to muster enough political will on this pro-poor measure instead of prioritizing measures that further enrich big foreign corporations and encourages encroachments on our sovereignty. Our poor women cannot wait much farther for something to happen. They are too hungry and their families are slowly dying, for this problem to be resolved much later than today." Rep. De Jesus ended.###

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Representative EMMI DE JESUS
Gabriela Women's Party
"Babae, Bata, OFWs at Bayan.... Tuloy ang Laban!"

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GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY
NEWS RELEASE
March 15, 2012

Ref:
Rep. Emmi De Jesus, 0917-3221203
Rowena Festin, 0915-6349308

SCRAPPING VAT WILL ALLOW MILLIONS OF POOR HOUSEHOLDS BREATHING SPACE FOR SURVIVAL – GWP REP. EMMI DE JESUS

“President Aquino should wake up and listen now to the call of the people to scrap VAT and the Oil Deregulation Law. He should stop peddling the illusion that collections from VAT alleviate the condition of the poor. VAT is a burden. Kung gusto talaga ng gubyerno na tulungan ang mahihirap, ibasura niya ang VAT, at bawasan ang mga tax incentives ng mga dambuhalang korporasyon. Ito ang maaaring pagkunan ng pamahalaan ng pondong mawawala kung aalisin ang VAT,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus as she joined women and other sectors in today’s people’s protest against oil overpricing.

The Gabriela solon enumerated RA 7369 (An Act Granting Tax Duty Exemption and Tax Credit on Capital Equipment), RA 7916 of 1995 (Preferential Tax treatment for Special Economic Zones), RA 7844 of 1994 that gives tax credits for exporters, and RA 7227 of 1992, on duty free importation in former US bases. She also noted the IBON Foundation statement that the government is losing up to Php200B because of tariff reductions.

“VAT and Oil Deregulation Law are licenses for the oil cartel to increase oil prices with impunity. The Aquino administration, while exerting suspiciously too much effort on the Corona impeachment, is conveniently forgetting that justice must also be served to the Filipino people who are swindled daily by the oil cartel,” added De Jesus.

De Jesus also said that removing VAT on oil will provide the much needed breathing space for the financially burdened Filipino families because it will reduce the price of oil by PhP 6 to 7 per liter. At the same time, however, the government must also implement the more strategic solution of nationalizing the oil industry and creating more decent jobs for the people. That is, if it is truly, a government for the people," ended De Jesus. ###

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Representative EMMI DE JESUS
Gabriela Women's Party
"Babae, Bata, OFWs at Bayan.... Tuloy ang Laban!"

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Press Statement
15 March 2012

Pahayag sa Kalahating Araw ng Protestang Bayan

(1) Kalahating araw pa lang ng Protestang Bayan, naipakita na ng mga manggagawa at mamamayan ang galit sa kartel sa langis at sa gobyerno ni Pang. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III kaugnay ng napakamahal at nagmamahal pang produktong petrolyo. Banta pa lang ng protesta, hindi na itinuloy ng kartel sa langis ang dagdag-presyo.

Pero kapos na kapos pa ito. Patuloy naming itatambol ang aming mga panawagan: Labanan ang overpricing sa langis! Big-time rollback, ipatupad! VAT sa langis, tanggalin! Oil Deregulation Law, ibasura! Isabansa ang industriya ng langis!

Papalakasin pa namin ang protesta mamayang ala-5:00 ng hapon hanggang alas-7:00 ng gabi. Patuloy naming hihimukin ang mga manggagawa at mamamayan na ilabas ang galit sa hirap na dulot ng napakataas at tumataas pang presyo ng langis.

(2) Ang bansag na “transport strike” o “welgang pantransportasyon” sa transport caravan ng mga tsuper ngayong araw ay pakana ng Malakanyang at MMDA sa pamumuno ni Francis Tolentino. Gusto nilang lituhin ang publiko at manakot ng pandarahas. Malinaw na patunay ito ng pakikipagsabwatan nila sa kartel sa langis.

(3) Taliwas sa sinasabi ng tagapagsalita ng pangulo na “perhuwisyo” ang Protestang Bayan, ang tunay na perwisyo ay ang pagnanakaw ng kartel ng langis at pakikipagsabwatan ng rehimeng Aquino rito. Patuloy kami sa pagpanawagan sa mga manggagawa at mamamayan na lumahok sa Protestang Bayan ngayong araw.

(4) Ikinakatuwa namin ang mga panawagang bawasan o lubusang tanggalin ang Value-Added Tax, bagamat malinaw ang kagustuhan naming matanggal ang buong buwis. Gayundin ang mga panawagang ibasura ang salot na Oil Deregulation Law.

Ikinakatuwa rin namin ang panawagan ng maraming mambabatas at iba pang sektor ng lipunan para bawasan o tanggalin ang VAT sa langis at ibasura ang Oil Deregulation Law.

(5) Bukod sa pagtanggal sa VAT, panawagan din namin ang kagyat na big-time rollback sa presyo ng langis. Nakabatay ito sa ipinapakita ng pananaliksik na halos P9.00 overpricing sa kada litro ng diesel at mahigit P10.00 overpricing sa kada litro ng unleaded gasoline. Nilalabanan namin ang pagnanakaw sa mga manggagawa at mamamayan na ginagawa ng kartel sa langis.

Reference: Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson, 0908-1636597
 

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15 March 2012

Amidst non-stop oil price hikes
Workers to press for substantial wage hike

Joining today’s Protestang Bayan against non-stop oil price hikes, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno vowed to push for a substantial wage increase in the coming weeks, saying recent price hikes have further reduced the real value of workers’ wages.

KMU decried increases in the costs of petroleum products, electricity, and other basic goods and services this year, vowing to intensify protests against the skyrocketing prices of petroleum products and for a significant wage hike.

“Workers have not received a significant wage increase for more than nine years under the previous administration and more than one year under the present one. The real value of workers’ wages is being further eroded by this years’ price hikes,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“Without a significant wage hike, workers’ families will continue sinking deeper into hunger and poverty. A substantial wage hike will at least provide some relief from skyrocketing prices,” he added.

KMU cited a research by independent think-tank Ibon Foundation last April 2011 saying the minimum wage in the National Capital Region is only 2/5 of the minimum amount needed by a workers’ family daily to live decently – a slide from the 1/2 proportion in 2001.

P125 Wage Hike Bill

The labor center said it will push for the passage of House Bill 375, otherwise known as the P125 Wage Hike Bill, filed by Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael V. Mariano, seeking a P125 across-the-board wage increase nationwide.

“We will continue to put pressure on the House of Representatives and Senate to approve our wage hike bill. We want the wage hike to be legislated, because that’s workers’ only chance of having a significant wage hike,” Labog said.

“We do not believe that the country’s regional wage boards are capable of granting a significant wage hike. History has proven that these wage boards are instruments for pressing down, not increasing, workers’ wages,” Labog added.

The highest wage hike granted by the country’s regional wage boards is a mere P33 in the National Capital Region under the Estrada administration.

Reference: Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson, 0908-1636597
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Media Release
15 March 2012

Protestang Bayan
Workers vow to intensify protests for relief from oil price hikes

Even as they join today’s Protestang Bayan, workers and urban poor led by labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno vowed to continue protests until the government of Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III takes action and provides some relief from the non-stop oil price hikes.

KMU joined today’s nationwide multisectoral protest against the oil companies’ overpricing schemes, calling for a big-time rollback. It also called for the scrapping of the Value-Added Tax on petroleum products, the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law, and the nationalization of the oil industry.

“While today’s protest marks a peak of our campaign, we vow to launch bigger protests in the coming months until we get some relief from the skyrocketing oil prices. Because hunger and poverty continue to worsen, we vow never to stop holding protests until our demands are met,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“The Filipino workers and people are angry at the unabated hikes in the prices of oil products. We are getting even angrier upon seeing the big oil companies’ greed and the Aquino government’s attempt to paint itself as helpless before the price hikes,” he added.

“Progressive organizations like the KMU will continue to provide workers and the people with various means to express their anger at the non-stop oil price hikes,” he said.

More than 30 protest centers were formed in the National Capital Region, including those in Monumento, Batasan, Sta. Mesa, Delpan, Philcoa, and Araneta Avenue. Protests were also held across the country, from Baguio to Southern Tagalog, from Panay to Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

KMU said Pres. Aquino has again shown his connivance with the Big 3 oil companies in trying to weaken protests by releasing a new round of Pantawid Pasada cards, hyping an impending oil price rollback, and delaying ruling on petitions for a fare hike.

The labor center slammed the Aquino government for trying to scare the public from joining today’s protests, threatening operators with the cancellation of franchises, warning government employees not to join the protests, and threatening to use force against protestors.

“Now, more than ever, the public is aware of how Pres. Aquino is in cahoots with the Big 3 oil companies. People know the evils of the VAT on oil products and the Oil Deregulation Law, and know that the Aquino government refuses to do anything to remove these,” Labog said.

“Try as he may, Pres. Aquino cannot extricate himself from this most pressing concern of the people. His government’s much-vaunted popularity will surely be hurt by his inaction on the issue of oil prices,” he added.

Reference: Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson, 0908-1636597

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Media Release
14 March 2012

Protestors storm Congress, call for Oil Deregulation Law junking

One day before the scheduled “Protestang Bayan Laban sa Overpricing sa Langis,” workers and urban poor led by labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno joined other sectoral organizations this morning in a rally in front of Congress to call for the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law, saying the move will put a stop to the non-stop price hikes being implemented by the big oil companies.

KMU joined other organizations under the Koalisyon ng Progresibong Manggagawa at Mamamayan (KPMM) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) which picketed the House of Representatives in time for a “Peoples-Legislators’ Forum on Oil Price Hikes and Alternative Solutions.”

The labor center threw its support behind House Bill 4317, filed by Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael V. Mariano, seeking the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law otherwise known as Republic Act 8479.

“The junking of the Oil Deregulation Law will, at the very least, mean that the big oil companies will not be able to increase prices as they please. That is already a much-welcome relief for the Filipino workers and people,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“At the same time, pro-people legislators in Congress have already filed a bill putting forward alternatives to the current deregulated setup in the oil industry. Calls for regulation in the oil industry do not mean reverting to the discredited Oil Price Stabilization Fund,” he added.

The labor leader is referring to House Bill 4355 filed by Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy A. Casiño, which enumerates various alternatives to the deregulated setup in the oil industry.

Labog called on the workers and people to join the March 15 protest, as well as succeeding protests, against the non-stop oil price hikes and the overpricing being implemented by the oil companies.

“We harbor no illusions about Congress. Only big and sustained protests by workers and the poor will give these bills the chance to be passed,” he said.

“We are calling on everyone who’s angry at the non-stop oil price hikes and the overpricing being undertaken by the oil companies to join our protests tomorrow. Many protest centers will be set up across the country, providing venues for everyone to express their dismay and anger,” he added.

Reference: Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson, 0908-1636597

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News Release
March 15, 2012
Reference: Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, 09209035683

“While jeepney drivers lose P96/day, oil companies rake in P147 M/day from overpricing!”- Casiño

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño today revealed that oil companies rake in approximately P147 million every day from overpricing the local pump price of diesel alone. Almost 78% of this amount will go to the four biggest oil companies in the country (Petron – P55 M daily extra profits from overpriced diesel; Shell, P38 M; Chevron, P15 M; and Total, P8 M).

“If we are to extrapolate the monthly earnings of oil companies on their overpriced diesel then it would amount to P4,410,000,000 or approximately P4.5 billion, a very huge amount that can be used by drivers to buy more food for their families. The daily income of jeepney drivers is eroded by P96 per oil price hikes this year. Their estimated daily consumption of diesel is P1,443, while P1,200 is the total amount loaded in a Pantawid Pasada card. How cruel can the government get?” asked Casiño.

“Aside from this the government of is collecting a huge windfall revenue from additional VAT on oil at the expense of the public interest."Considering that there is a P1 billion additional VAT revenue for every $1 increase in Dubai crude, there is already a P4 billion VAT windfall for the first quarter of the year alone. Assuming that there is no huge change in the volume of consumption and the level of price for the rest of the year, we can say that the projected windfall VAT revenues for 2012 is P26 billion," added the progressive solon.

Casiño based his estimates on the February 2012 Dubai crude average of $116/bbl (IMF commodity data) and using $90/bbl BESF 2012 programmed Dubai cost.

"Sobrang laki pala talaga ang nakukuha ng pamahalaan dito sa VAT kaya ayaw ibigay sa mamamayan. Pero nakakalula na talaga ang kita ng mga kumpanya ng langis at ng gobyerno at dapat naman nilang isipin ang interes ng mas nakararami. Kumbaga nga e “they should moderate their greed,” said the progressive solon.

“The Aquino government should forego this gigantic windfall, which is gained in exchange for the suffering of the people. Consumers need immediate and concrete relief, and the president should listen. The estimated immediate reduction in the pump price of diesel if the VAT on oil is removed is almost P6 per liter; almost P7 per liter for gasoline; and as much as P110 per 11-kg tank for LPG.

“Again we demand that marathon hearings should be done to fast track House Bill 2719 to scrap the VAT from oil products and to fast track House Bill 4355 to again regulate the oil industry,” ended Casiño. # # #

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News Release
March 14, 2012
Reference: Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, 09209035683

Huge P26B windfall tax from VAT on oil is unjust and oppressive - Casiño

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño today said that the projected P26B windfall revenues from the VAT on oil for 2012 is "an unjust and oppressive burden on the people that has no place in a government that professes to be for the poor."

At a forum titled "High Oil Orices: Seeking Solutions" held at the House of Representatives, Casiño accused the government of raking in billions of additional VAT on oil at the expense of the public interest. "Considering that there is a P1 billion additional VAT revenue for every $1 increase in Dubai crude, there is already a P4 billion VAT windfall for the first quarter of the year alone. Assuming that there is no huge change in the volume of consumption and the level of price for the rest of the year, we can say that the projected windfall VAT revenues for 2012 is P26 billion."

Casiño based his estimates on the February 2012 Dubai crude average of $116/bbl (IMF commodity data) and using $90/bbl BESF 2012 programmed Dubai cost.

"Sobrang laki pala talaga ang nakukuha ng pamahalaan dito sa VAT kaya ayaw ibigay sa mamamayan,” said the progressive solon.

He said the rationale for imposing the VAT on oil seven years ago does not hold true anymore. "The VAT was increased to 12% and expanded to include oil, power and basic commodities in 2005 as a response to the fiscal crisis of 2004. Now seven years have passed and we are being told that the economy is doing good, gross international reserves are at historic levels and the public debt is well managed. Therefore there is no more basis for such a high VAT rate and immediate relief can be given to the people even on just the VAT on oil," said the lawmaker.

He said seven years after increasing and expanding the VAT, it is time to give the public a break.

“The Aquino government should forego this gigantic windfall, which is gained in exchange for the suffering of the people. Consumers need immediate and concrete relief, and the president should listen. The estimated immediate reduction in the pump price of diesel if the VAT on oil is removed is almost P6 per liter; almost P7 per liter for gasoline; and as much as P110 per 11-kg tank for LPG.

“Again we demand that marathon hearings should be done to fast track House Bill 2719 to scrap the VAT from oil products and to fast track House Bill 4355 to ag2ain regulate the oil industry,” ended Casiño. # # #
 

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NEWS RELEASE
March 14, 2012

Reference: ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio L. Tinio (0920-922-0817)

Legislators and Organizations Attend Forum on Oil Price Hikes

A forum on the issue of the oil deregulation law and oil price hikes entitled “HIGH OIL PRICES: SEEKING SOLUTIONS, A People’s-Legislators’ Forum was held at the House of Representatives. The said forum was attended by Rep. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers Partylist and several progressive parties and members of the congress to discuss the surging prices of oil and petroleum.

As part of the forum, Mr. Renato Reyes of Bayan discussed global oil monopoly and the deregulated Philippines oil industry. He discussed how foreign monopoly and the oil cartel dictate the price of oil and other petroleum products. The Oil Deregulation Law allows big companies of oil to set prices that are very far from their actual production costs.

Mr. Sonny Africa of IBON Foundation and Dr. Giovanni Tapang of AGHAM gave a talk on estimating overpricing in petroleum products. Their talk revealed that oil companies gain P9 (nine pesos) per liter for the overpricing of oil and petroleum products. This staggering amount of profit creates an impression that there is no reason for oil price hikes.

The House Bill 4355 which is the immediate alternative to oil deregulation was highlighted by Rep. Teddy Casino. He stressed that the government must scrap the oil deregulation law and seek other ways to control the price of oil. Rep. Casino points out that the 12% Value Added Tax to the price of oil must be totally removed. Instead of being dependent on foreign oil companies, the government must nationalize our oil industry.

The forum was attended by other legislators and members of the house. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Alliance of Concerned Truck Operators (ACTO), Gabriela Women’s Party, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Caritas Manila and Rep. Mitos Magsaysay participated in an open forum for the sharing on filed bills and resolutions on oil.

There are a total of 14 bills that range from the review, amendment and the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law. In addition to this, there are 3 more bills that call for either the reduction or the complete removal of the Value Added Tax on oil.

Rep. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers Partylist says that these bills have been pending for 1 ½ years. Filed under the Committee on Energy of the House of Representatives headed by Rep. Henedina Abad, the bills remain stagnant. “We strongly urge the Committee on Energy and Rep. Henedina Abad to schedule hearings for the bills related to the oil deregulation law and the VAT on the price of oil. Now that our people continue to suffer from the repercussions of the oil price hikes, the discussion of these bills must be our priority as representatives of the people,” Rep. Tinio notes. “As there are still no laws on the regulation of price of oil, we support the peoples’ call for the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law through a National Day of Protest against oil price hikes,” he adds.

The program was ended with a challenge from Rep. Emi de Jesus of Gabriela Women’s Party. Rep. de Jesus encouraged the people to join in the March 15 protest action against high oil prices. She stressed the need to strengthen the people’s fight for their national democratic rights. ###

 
     
     
     

 
     
     
           
     

Lana Linaban, Gabriela Secretary General
Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus
     
     

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KABATAAN PARTY-LIST
Office of Rep. Raymond V. Palatino

North Wing Room 419, House of Representatives, Batasan Complex, Quezon City
Email: cong.mongpalatino@gmail.com Telefax: (+632) 931-5504, Trunkline: (+632) 931500 loc 7378
Headquarters: 118-B Scout Rallos Extn, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City Telefax: 352-1054

Press Release:

March 15, 2012

Reference:
Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino, Kabataan Party-list, 0908-5927099 / 0922-8369693

Youth and students bear the brunt of oil price hikes

Led by the Kabataan Party-list, thousands of Youth and students held simultaneous protest actions, noise barrages and walk-outs in different communities and schools nationwide as they join the People’s Protest (Protestang Bayan) against Oil Overpricing.

According to Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino “It seems like President Aquino is sleeping on the job. With the unabated increase in oil prices, the President hasn’t done anything to protect the welfare of the people who are enduring the blow of oil price hikes.”

“The claim of the Aquino government that it is helpless over oil price hike is a sorry admittance of its impotence. It should relinquish its mandated power if that’s the case,” added Palatino.

Number of out-of-school youth to rise due to oil price hikes

“All these price hikes coincide at a time when students and parents are looking for means to pay for outstanding balance in tuition fees; and schools also propose for more tuition and other fee increases. Truly this is already an economic assault on an already embattled citizenry grappling with unemployment and poverty,” Rep. Palatino added.

Outside the four walls of our classroom, the Filipinos continue to bear the burden of unprecedented hikes in oil, utilities, basic commodities, and even services. The prices of goods continue to rise, while salaries are at an all-time low.

“To send the children to school or to provide food on the table? Filipino families in dire living conditions are always compelled to choose which to prioritize. In the end, the education of the youth is being left behind”, said the youth solon.

The daily cost of living now stands at P917 in Metro Manila. Meanwhile, the minimum wage is pegged at P424 a day. “Right now, an average of P25,000 is needed to enroll a student in a semester. With a minimum wage of P424, workers have to save the equivalent of at least 60 days’ salaries to pay for their child’s tuition for one semester.

The recently approved and the impending hikes will lead to more students dropping out of school, since aside from tuition, daily expenses in schools such as transportation and food, continue to rise, while the wages of workers are not even enough to cope up with the daily needs of the family," added Palatino.

According to the Commission on Higher Education, 80% of high school graduates don’t make it up to college while 40% of enrolled freshmen are not able to continue to second year. In the basic education level, for 100 students who entered Grade 1, only 14 students will be able to graduate.

Remove Vat from oil

“If the president has the will to do so, there are numerous measures that he can do to stop oil price hike,” said Rep. Palatino.

Removal of VAT on petroleum products and other basic consumer goods is a viable and tangible means to provide immediate economic relief to a public burdened by high prices. Palatino also said that the Aquino government should push for legislative measures to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law (R.A. 8479). ###

 

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Press Release
March 15, 2012

REFERENCE: Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan national chairperson, 09174416739 / 09224290258

Youth group hits gov't overreaction to protests; says PNoy's "Task Force Praning" responded with false rumors and threats

Youth group Anakbayan said today that the Aquino government has "again, become 'praning'" and has "overacted" in its response to the protests against oil price hikes today.

"May overpricing na, may overacting government pa. Instead of heeding the call to regulate oil prices, the government responded with chismis, rumors and threats," said Anakbayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo.

"Transport groups and organizations have repeatedly said that today's protests will not include a transport strike. It was Noynoy's Task Force Praning and Chismis Operations which declared the transport strike to try to undermine protests by portraying it as something it is not," he said.

Crisostomo said they are worried that these rumors might be used as pretext to use force against protesters and to harass groups joining the activity.

"The Aquino government stop its terrorism and showbiz acting. It should instead respond by immediately stopping oil price hikes, lifting the VAT on oil and scrapping the oil deregulation law," he said.

More than 100 youth groups have pledged to participate in today's protests which will include campus walkouts in University of the Philippines Diliman and Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the university belt.

Amidst MMDA threats that they will arrest protesters who will do "planking" protests, the youth groups also introduced a new form of protest which they called "Noynoying."

"Noynoying is the new planking: uupo lang walang gagawin kundi papogi at tamad tamaran," he said.

Crisostomo said Noynoying will be done by groups of youth in public places, where they will abruptly sit down and act lazy and will imitate the President's trademark vacant stare.

Anakbayan said they are preparing for more protests in the next few weeks against oil price hikes and the Aquino government's "connivance" with the oil cartel. ###

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Anakbayan Public Information Committee
Contact us at: anakbayan.media@gmail.com / +639175197758
Visit the Online Campaign center @ anakbayan.org

"Only through militant struggle can the best in the youth emerge"
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March 15 2012

REFERENCE: Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan national chairperson, 09174416739 / 09224290258

100+ youth and student groups join nationwide protest vs. oil overpricing, introduce ‘Noynoying’ as new form of protest vs. weekly oil price hikes

More than a hundred student councils and publications, campus and youth organizations, and community-based groups will join today’s nationwide ‘Protestang Bayan’ (or People’s Protest) against the overpricing of petroleum products both in local and international markets.

Led by the youth group Anakbayan, the organizations under the KKK, or Kilos Na Kontra Kartel at Overpricing sa Langis, are also up in arms against the continued inaction of President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III regarding the host of proposals meant to curb the weekly oil price hikes so far in 2012.

“For the nth time, we remind the Aquino administration that there are dozens of bills gathering dust in the House of Representatives which aim to address the problem of oil price hikes: from removing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products, to repealing the Oil Deregulation Law, to nationalizing our oil and energy industry. Now Noynoy cannot ‘deny lang’ and say ‘I was not informed’” said Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan.

Students from the University of the Philippines Diliman and Manila, as well as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, will hold 'lunch-time protests' within their campuses. They will afterwards join workers, teachers, and government employees in several designated 'protest centers': Philcoa in Quezon City; Stop and Shop, Sta. Mesa, and Anda Circle, Taft Avenue, in Manila.

While the MMDA has said it will arrest protesters who will 'plank' on roads today, youth protesters will introduce a new form of protest: 'Noynoying'. A parody of President Noynoy Aquino's inaction in regards to oil overpricing, students will instead sit down in the middle of certain major roads in Metro Manila while adopting the president's trademark vacant stare.

Meanwhile, Anakbayan dismissed Palace claims that removing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products, one of the proposals to provide immediate relief to consumers, will affect social services.

"Even with the VAT, the Aquino administration has repeatedly slashed the budget of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), health care, and other social services" said Crisostomo.

In the past two years, Anakbayan and other youth and student groups have launched 'campus strikes' and massive rallies against budget cuts to SUCs and other social services yearly under Aquino's first two years.

"It is disgusting to hear the Aquino administration claim concern over the state of social services when their attitude several months ago was 'let the budget cuts be'" said the youth leader. ###

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Anakbayan Public Information Committee
Contact us at: anakbayan.media@gmail.com / +639175197758
Visit the Online Campaign center @ anakbayan.org

"Only through militant struggle can the best in the youth emerge"
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PRESS RELEASE
March 15,2012

Youth orgs, students engage in ‘people’s protest’ against oil price hikes

Students and youth organizations walked out of their classes today as a form of engagement in the people’s protest against unhampered oil price hikes.
The youth, with workers, women and transport groups, gathered at several protest centers in Metro Manila and staged a program against “monopoly pricing” of petroleum products. The “people’s protest” is part of the “national day of action against oil price hikes.”

Protest centers were set up in Philcoa, Sta.Mesa, Divisoria and other areas. Transport groups, led by Piston, also launched a “transport caravan.”
“This is a show of force against the seemingly absolute freedom of the Big Three companies to increase oil prices whenever they want,” said Vencer Crisostomo, national chairperson of Anakbayan, comprehensive national democratic organization of youth. “The people’s protest is our response to the overused lie of the oil cartel: oil price hikes are inevitable due to oil scarcity and political turmoil,” he added.

As of this moment, the price of gasoline is only two pesos below the historically highest price recorded, which was noted in 2008. The difference, however, is that in 2008, the price of gasoline in the world market is $140, while today, it is only $120.

“Around 80 percent of the process is controlled by the Big Three companies. Therefore, it should not be affected by the fluctuations in the market or speculations, contrary to the claims of the oil monopoly,” explained Pauline Gidget Estella, national deputy secretary general of College Editors Guild of the Philippines, an alliance of student publications.

“There is a difference of around $75 between the actual amount needed to produce a barrel of crude oil and the published price. The reality is that oil companies have fixed a bloated price for the sake of super profits,” explained Estella.

It is not true that the government cannot do anything at the spate of oil price hikes, said Gemma Canalis, spokesperson of League of Filipino Students. “The Aquino administration can junk the Oil Deregulation Law (ODL) and lessen the impact of monopoly pricing on the poor majority. However, as expected from a pro-cartel administration, the government turns a blind eye to the 400 percent increase in prices of petroleum products within the 14-year implementation of the ODL,” she explained.

“The government has even distorted facts to discredit the people’s protest against oil price hikes. It has described the protest as a transport strike, and when the transportation is not paralyzed, they would immediately declare the strike as a failure. It is a protest action, not a transport strike, to begin with,” said Issa Baguisi, secretary general of National Union of Students of the Philippines, the alliance of student councils in the country.

“When we declared last Tuesday that we would hold a people’s protest against the hikes, the scheduled increased was called off. This signifies that through collective action and mass campaign, we can stop these hikes and frustrate these oil companies, which do not stop amassing unimaginable profits as the rest of our people could barely make ends meet,” said Baguisi. ###
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Pauline Gidget Estella
Deputy Secretary General
College Editors Guild of the Philippines National Office
0915.335.20.21

Jonalyn Paz
Media Liaison Officer
College Editors Guild of the Philippines National Office
0916.474.44.12


College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Media Email: cegp.newsdesk@gmail.com
Website: www.cegp.org
Facebook: Cegp Pambansang Opisina
Twitter: @cegponline
Landline Number: (02) 415-19-44 Hotline Number: +63-906-935-77-22
 

 
     
     
Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr.
     

▲  Drivers want PNoy to act on their demands fo remove the VAT
and scrap the Oil Deregulation Law   ▼
     

 
     
           
     
     
     

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MEDIA RELEASE /15 March 2012
IBON Foundation, Inc., IBON Center 114 Timog Avenue, Quezon City Philippines
Phone: (632) 927-6986/927-7060 to 62|Fax: 929-2496| E-mail: media@ibon.org
|http://www.ibon.org

FOR SAKE OF CONSUMERS: GOV’T SHOULD REGULATE OIL INDUSTRY
TO ENSURE TRANSPARENT PRICING

As the world marks International Consumer Rights Day, research group IBON said that the consuming public, which bears the brunt of unabated oil price hikes, has the right to know how the oil companies determine oil prices.

The group urged government to regulate the oil industry to ensure transparency in pricing. It also challenged oil firms to give additional information about their operations to show that the price of local oil is not beyond what is justified. “Only oil firms have full details of their operations. But under the oil deregulation law, oil companies are protected from disclosing these key information to the public, thus giving the oil firms more room to manipulate their prices” said IBON research head Sonny Africa, speaking before oil industry stakeholders and lawmakers on Wednesday in a forum at the House of Representatives.

The forum entitled “High Oil Prices: Seeking Solutions” organized by progressive partylist groups led by Bayan Muna and multisectoral alliance Bayan invited lawmakers and sectors most affected by oil price hikes to discuss the various bills and resolutions filed at the House of Representatives to reduce and control oil prices. IBON spoke on how local oil prices have been outpacing global crude prices as well as various estimates on local overpricing of petroleum products.

Africa explained that oil firms are charging the public more for diesel and gasoline noting that local and diesel and gasoline pump prices significantly outpacing global crude prices. The price of Dubai crude increased by an average of P0.15 per month while the pump price of diesel increased by an average of P0.22 per month over the January 1999-January 2011 period.

He added that diesel may be overpriced by 8%-43% over the same period, where 8% assumes crude cost in a liter of diesel is equivalent to 1.3 liters of Dubai crude and 43% assumes a liter of diesel has 1 liter of Dubai crude.

“Unwarranted increases in oil prices hurt poorest consumers the worst with more expensive LPG, vegetables, fish, transport fares and other basic expenses,” Africa said. “It’s time for government to rethink the oil deregulation law and consider regulating oil prices for the sake of consumers.”

Important information that oil firms should make available include retail pricing formulas and strategies; overseas supply sources and terms of supply contracts; payments of local firms to mother firms; refinery stocks and capacity; inventories and storage capacity; and local sales and distribution to direct buyers, retailers and other oil firms.

Only effective state regulation of the oil industry will ensure transparency in the oil industry, which is an important step in ensuring cheap prices of petroleum products. Through regulation, these information can be publicly disclosed and verified, Africa stressed. (end)

IBON Foundation, Inc. is an independent development institution established in 1978 that provides research, education, publications, information work and advocacy support on socioeconomic issues.

 
           
     
     
     

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CPP expresses solidarity with protests against oil price hikes

Communist Party of the Philippines
March 14, 2012
 

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) expressed solidarity with planned protest actions to be carried out tomorrow against the constant increases in oil prices being imposed by foreign big oil companies against the Filipino people.
 

Democratic organizations of workers, jeepney drivers, urban poor, students, women and other sectors are planning to hold mass actions tomorrow in the face of weekly hikes in oil prices since the start of this year. Prices of disel have increased by nearly P6 per liter this year.
 

“The Filipino people are justified in launching more and bigger protest actions to dramatize their opposition to the oppressive pricing scheme of the foreign monopoly oil companies,” said the CPP.
 

“In the face of constant increases in oil prices, their only resort is to muster a force big enough to compel the callous oil monopoly companies to roll back the prices of oil commodities and push the US-Aquino regime to remove or reduce taxes imposed on oil and repeal the oil deregulation law,” pointed out the CPP.
 

“By imposing one price increase after another, the oil companies are condemning the people to suffer further economic hardships,” said the CPP. “The Filipino people are fed up with the constant increases in oil prices.”


“The planned protest actions are an indictment of the US-Aquino regime for its subservience to the oil companies and its adamant refusal to heed the people’s clamor to stop oil price increases and end the oil deregulation law.

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Rise up in mass protest against weekly oil price increases--CPP

Communist Party of the Philippines
March 02, 2012
 

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today called on the Filipino people to rise up in mass protest against the weekly round of oil price increases and demand an end to the policy of deregulation that has been invoked by the Philippine government as justification for allowing foreign oil monopoly companies to raise prices with impunity.
 

The CPP issued this statement after the eighth round of oil price increases in as many weeks resulting in prices of close to P50 per liter for diesel and more than a thousand pesos for an 11-kilogram tank of cooking gas.
 

“Under the deregulation law and with the Aquino regime benefiting from higher taxes on oil products, foreign giant oil companies are increasing prices at will,” said the CPP. “These foreign giants which control the entire international oil industry are wringing the people dry and lining their pockets with billions of dollars in superprofits.”
 

“The CPP calls on the Filipino people to intensify their mass struggles and rise up in their hundreds of thousands to put a stop to the incessant oil price increases,” said the CPP. “The only force that can stop the oil prices increases is the force of the Filipino people rising up in mass protest demanding a stop to the superprofit machines of the oil companies and an end to the regime of deregulation and clamoring for the nationalization of the oil industry.”
 

People’s organizations and broad alliances are planning a nationwide protest action on March 15. The CPP anticipates protest actions to further intensify as rising oil prices constantly push higher the costs of living and worsen the people’s socio-economic conditions.
 

The CPP pointed out that the international oil industry is controlled by the Big 5 monopoly capitalist companies namely Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell Company, Chevron-Texaco, British Petroleum and Total Petroleum. “These companies control the entire oil industry, from mining and refining, distribution and retail,” said the CPP. “The oil monopolists collaborate with big financialists in price speculation to artificially push up oil prices way way beyond the actual cost of oil production.”
 

“These same monopoly capitalists control the downstream oil industry, comprising the distribution and retail of refined petroleum products,” said the CPP. “So-called small players are actually controlled by or rely on supply provided by the international monopoly companies.”
 

Last week, the price of crude oil shot up to nearly $110 per barrel after weeks of political speculation that had nothing to do with oil production. “It is estimated that as much as 85-90% of the market price of crude oil is actually speculative pricing for superprofit making,” said the CPP. It cited studies made by the US Senate revealing that the actual cost of production of crude oil is less than $20 per barrel.
 

The CPP pointed out that the Big 5 oil companies had accumulated profits of $136.8 billion last year, equivalent to $16 million dollars of profits every hour.

 

Company

2011 Profits

(in billion US$)

Exxon Mobil

41.1

Royal Dutch Shell

28.6

Chevron-Texaco

26.9

British Petroleum

23.9

Total Petroleum

16.3

 

Total

136.8

 

 
     
           
     
 
     
     
   
BONUS TRACKS
   
     

An old invention for the 21st century man in a time of continuing oil price hikes
 
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