Drivers urge oil price rollback

2 MIN READ

BAGUIO CITY (Dec. 13) — Jeepney drivers and operators called for the rollback of oil prices and urged the government to investigate the alleged overpricing of oil products in a march-rally here, Thursday.

Photo by Dorothea Ysabel B. Maranan/NORDIS

Carlito Wayas, president of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahang Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide-Metro Baguio (Piston) claimed that around 30 percent of the driver-members of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association in Baguio and La Union (FEDJODABLU) supported to call for the nationalization of the oil industry, which is controlled by the oil cartels.

Piston also pushed for fare increases as previous oil price hikes continue to erode their meager earnings.

In a statement by Piston, the price of gasoline and diesel has increased 15 times since January this year. Diesel, which used to be P32.50 is now at P38.53 per liter. The price of gasoline rose from P37.50 to P45.90.

The last fare increase happened two years ago when the P5.50 jeepney fare increased to P7.50 .

Piston-Metro Baguio revealed the amount that an ordinary driver takes home at present is P80, far from their P200 they used to earn at the start of the year.

Drivers can no longer deal with the incessant oil price hike which consumes a big part of their daily income, according to Piston.

National leaders of Piston petitioned for a one peso fare increase as an economic relief, although they believe that it is not the best solution for the overpricing of diesel and gasoline.

Wayas said that drivers have been reduced as collectors of super profits for the cartel and value added taxes (VAT) which some government officials allegedly plunder.

“We all know that the poor drivers are primarily affected in the event of an oil price hike, because whenever the price of oil increases, it cuts down a part of his daily earnings,” he added.

According to the Piston statement, the Oil Deregulation Law has become an excuse for the Arroyo government not to take control of the pricing. The group also suspects that the proceeds of the recent oil price increase were used to finance the trip of 30 congressmen who went to Europe with Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Wayas assures the public that as another oil price hike looms at the end of the year, protest actions from Piston will continue to be eminent.

“Piston never ceases in fighting for our democratic right to press on our grievances,” Wayas said.

Meanwhile, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) supported the call to scrap the oil deregulation law.

Migrante International Chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said that the constant oil price hikes fuel the rising prices of basic goods and services.

Bragas-Regalado asserted that the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law should be the first step of the administration if Arroyo’s intent is to improve financial crisis of OFW’s and their families.

She said that even earnings from abroad can hardly keep up with the rising cost of living. The Migrante leader commits to intensify both the campaign for the repeal of the oil deregulation law for OFW’s and their families and the campaign to oust Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. # Danica Sophia E. Oliveros and Dorothea B. Maranan