As successive hikes in fuel and basic goods strain Filipino households, progressive groups lambasted the intensifying geopolitical ambitions of the United States (US) that could draw the Philippines into global conflict.
“Dahil sa kasakiman at kagustuhan ng imperyalistang US na kontrolin ang West Asia, buong mundo ang apektado nito. Sa Pilipinas pa lang na nariyan ang pagpapakatuta ni Marcos Jr., ano pang aasahan natin?” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan National Capital Region coordinator Alwen Santos.
No US bases but EDCA sites host US troops, equipment
“Maaari talagang maging lunsaran ng digmaan ang Pilipinas,” Santos warned.
Since the US-Israel military offensive against Iran, the latter has quickly retaliated with a series of missile and drone strikes not only against Israeli targets but also against US military bases and allied installations in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, and other countries hosting US military bases.
According to Santos, the presence of US military troops along with their equipment and the annual Balikatan exercises under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) have only made the country more vulnerable.
“Tulad na lamang ng kung ano ang nangyayari sa West Asia, hindi malabong madamay tayo sa panahon na pumutok ang digmaan sa pang-uupat din ng US sa Tsina,” Santos explained.
There are nine EDCA sites in the country, with four additional sites in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Palawan.
Santos noted that the US has since exploited the Philippines and intervened in the country’s economy, politics, culture, and military.
“Ang mga hindi pantay na kasunduan at pangangayupapa ni Marcos Jr. mismo sa imperyalistang US ang dahilan kung bakit umiigting ang tensyon natin sa pagitan ng Tsina sa West Philippine Sea. Sa ganitong itsura, lalo pa nating inilalapit ang bansa sa panganib ng mas malawak na digmaan,” he added.
No crisis but Marcos signs EO 110
While Marcos Jr. maintained that there is no oil crisis in the country, his declaration of a state of national energy emergency through the issuance of Executive Order No. 110 suggests otherwise.
“Una sa lahat, sinungaling sila. Ikalawa, sa layunin nilang mamigay lang ng ayuda na alam natin na sa mahabang panahon ay kinukurakot naman ang pondo. Tutungo lang din ulit ito sa panibagong malaking pagnanakaw kung saan kilala ang mga Marcos,” Santos stressed, adding that Marcos Jr. is in a “state of denial” for negligence in addressing the socioeconomic needs of marginalized sectors.
Under EO 110, the Marcos Jr. administration has adopted the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT). Marcos Jr. will also lead the UPLIFT committee along the Executive Secretary, the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev, formerly NEDA).
Meanwhile, the state of national energy emergency will remain in effect for a year unless Marcos Jr. decides to shorten or extend its duration.
Despite branding UPLIFT as a “coordinated, whole-of-government” approach, many groups criticized Marcos Jr. for relying on band-aid solutions rather than addressing the root causes of rising fuel prices. According to them, this pattern of stopgap measures is not new as it mirrors every government’s approach to various socioeconomic issues even before these escalate into a crisis.
Such an experience is echoed by Gabriela Valenzuela coordinator Leticia Castillo, recalling the government’s response during the COVID-19 crisis.
“2024 lang nakaahon ang mamamayan, tapos krisis na naman. Apektado talaga ang mamamayan kasi noong pandemic nagsara yung mga pagawaan, tumaas yung mga bilihin, at wala na ring mabili yung mga manggagawa. Hindi rin nakabiyahe ang mga jeepney driver, tapos ang sagot nila, puro ayuda. Ganoon din ngayon, ayuda, band-aid solution na hindi rin naman lahat ay nakakakuha,” said Castillo.
It must be noted that UPLIFT will only serve as a coordinating and monitoring body rather than directly control oil supply or prices, which remain largely in the hands of private companies under the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Law.
“Hindi talaga sapat ang ayuda at hindi makakaresolba ito sa kalagayan ng mga nasa sektor ng transportasyon. Kaya ang tulak namin ay ang pagtanggal sa mapaniil at mapanupil na batas na Oil Deregulation Law pati na rin ang VAT at excise tax,” said PISTON president Mody Floranda.
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