By ADELA DEYAEN WAYAS
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — “Of what use is the provisionary one peso fare hike when the oil companies continue to increase oil prices without due regard?” said Carlito Wayas, president of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) – Metro Baguio.

Right after the granting of the provisionary fare increase, the oil companies also increase their price on diesel said Wayas. “It was only a week ago that jeepney drivers increased fare but again the oil companies increase their prices, pantawid-gutom na nga lang binawi pa,” he said. (the increase was just to cope and they take it away again.)

Oil companies in the country added 75 centavos on diesel prices last February 8 almost a week after the implementation of the P1 provisionary fare hike.

Here in the city, the fare hike was implemented on February 7 later than the increase in the national capital. The drivers here did not feel that fare hike at all even for that one day, Wayas lamented. He called the provisionary fare hike as “walang silbi” (useless).

Wayas said drivers are the new slaves. At this time earning is only to aid the hungry stomach and for the next day’s toiling on the road for the oil companies and the government who take all the profit. Again he emphasized that the fare increase is not a solution to oil price hikes (OPHs).

PISTON considers the fare hike is but a temporary economic relief for the drivers who serve the public and toil for the family.

PISTON calls for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law which gives the oil companies freedom to increase oil prices anytime they want.

Wayas said the government should make a move to regulate and control oil prices in the country.

PISTON also appeals that the Extended-Value Added Tax on gasoline should be removed. By this, P6 to P7 per liter will be subtracted from the price of gasoline and diesel products.

The overpricing of the big three oil companies (Caltex, Shell, and Petron) must also be investigated as well, PISTON urged,” PISTON stated that since 2008, overpricing has already reached P6.72 per liter.

Thus, PISTON reiterated that the fare hike is not addressing the problem of the transport sector. PISTON believes that while the government remains silent on the issue, there will be more Oil Price Hikes (OPHs).

They challenged the current administration to take necessary actions toward national industrialization. More action protests will be done on OPHs, PISTON said.

Meanwhile, ANAKBAYAN, a mass organization for the Filipino youth, condemns the OPHs, and also supports the transport group in the call to repeal the Oil Deregulation law.

ANAKBAYAN said OPHs is another burden for the different sectors in the city including them. “The youth and the students also face tuition and other fee increases in schools, universities and colleges – public or private – in addition to oil price hikes, “ ANAKBAYAN said.

Furthermore, ANAKBAYAN explained Oil Deregulation Law is the root cause of the non-stop oil price increases, thus there is a need to scrap it for the political will of the Aquino administration to take active control in halting the endless price increases in oil, fare and other basic commodities. # nordis.net