Defend Jobs Philippines (DJP) led the protest denouncing the recent roll out of oil price hikes on Tuesday, October 15, at Makati City.
Calls for the repeal of the oil deregulation law (ODL) were once again campaigned as the imposed price hikes place pressure on the finances of ordinary Filipinos, the group stated.
Effective this morning, the following price hikes have taken effect:
SHELL, CALTEX, SEAOIL (effective 6 a.m.):
Gasoline: P2.65/liter
Kerosene: P2.60/liter
Diesel: P2.70/liter
CLEANFUEL (effective 4:01 p.m.):
Gasoline: P2.65/liter
Diesel: P2.70/liter
PETROGAZZ, JETTI PETROLEUM, PTT PHILIPPINES, UNIOIL (effective 6 a.m.):
Gasoline: P2.65/liter
Diesel: P2.70/liter
Rena Cañete, the advocacy director of DJP, credited the ODL as a primary factor for the slew of unabated oil price hikes.
“While global factors like tensions in the Middle East or natural disasters might influence oil prices, the deregulation law in the Philippines is the real culprit behind the unchecked, frequent price hikes. The law, enacted with the aim of fostering competition, has instead handed over control to oil companies, allowing them to manipulate prices and pass the full burden onto consumers,” Cañete said.
The group called for the immediate repeal of the ODL law which DJP surmised had failed to provide safeguards for the consumers during the slew of oil price hikes.
“Aside from calling for the repeal of the ODL, we are also urging the government to impose temporary price freezes or controls on basic goods and commodities to cushion the impact of fuel hikes on consumers. Oil price hikes are not just limited to petroleum hikes alone, it directly influences price hikes of other importance as well: food prices, transport, and even services. More often than not it is the poor who bear the brunt of these hikes, as they continually suffer from the rising prices of commodities, while remaining overworked and underpaid at the same time,” Cañete concluded.
 led the protest denouncing the recent roll out of oil price hikes on Tuesday, October 15, at Makati City.){kind=link}