đź“·: Kodao Productions
Progressive lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc on Tuesday denounced what they described as the “biggest fuel price shock since 1998,” blaming oil deregulation, cartel greed, and government inaction for the burden now borne by Filipino consumers.
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, and Kabataan Rep. Renee Louise Co issued a joint press statement condemning oil companies for exploiting instability in Iran and West Asia to manipulate pump prices and rake in huge profits.
Fuel prices surged this week by as much as ₱38.50 per liter, with diesel climbing between ₱17.50 and ₱24.25 per liter, gasoline rising ₱7 to ₱13 per liter, and kerosene spiking ₱32 to ₱38.50 per liter. The bloc said the staggered increases, spread over three days, only masked the impact of the hikes.
The lawmakers accused the Marcos Jr. administration of failing to act decisively, saying token show-cause orders and warnings against profiteering were meaningless under a deregulation regime that allows oil firms to freely pass on shocks and pad margins.
“Hindi makatwirang magbanta sa ilang gasolinahan habang pinananatili ang mismong batas na nagluluwag sa kartel at nagkakadena sa mamamayan,” the statement read.
Rejecting calls for belt-tightening, the bloc argued that millions of Filipinos already endure hunger wages, punishing commutes, and impossible budgets.
The progressive solons warned that talk of emergency powers was a smokescreen for the administration’s lack of planning and refusal to confront the oil cartel.
Among the measures pressed by the bloc were the removal of excise taxes and VAT on petroleum products, scrapping the Oil Deregulation Law, raising wages, and holding profiteers accountable.
They also linked the crisis to U.S.-Israel military actions in West Asia, which they said fuel instability and global price shocks.
The Makabayan bloc announced plans for a major protest at Mendiola on March 27 to demand accountability from the Marcos administration for worsening poverty and economic crisis.
“Singilin ang rehimen sa pananagutan at ipaglaban ang agarang ginhawa at pangmatagalang solusyon,” the statement concluded. (RRN)
