PISTON-Metro Baguio Statement on the Oil Price Increases

The prices of oil products has reached its highest and we are not sure as to how much do the oil cartel still increase this coming days or weeks. The price of diesel and gasoline has jacked up 15 times since January this year up to the present. Diesel was P32.50 per liter and is now P38.53 while gasoline was P37.50 and is now P45.90.

The transport sector especially the poor drivers of public utility vehicles who are directly the most affected can no longer cope with the impact of the rising cost of fuel. The following figures show that their daily income was almost eaten up by the unhampered increases of diesel:
January '07
Average gross income of driver for 14 hours pasada - P1,500 (At P7.50 minimum fair)
Less diesel consumption - P650.00 (20 liters/day x P32.50)
Meals - P150.00 (Budget meal x 3 x P50/meal)
Boundary - P500.00
Net income or take-home pay for driver - P200.00

December '07
Average gross income of driver for 14 hours pasada - P1,500 (At P7.50 minimum fair)
Less diesel consumption - P770.60 (20 liters/day x P38.53)
Meals - P150.00 (Budget meal x 3 x P50/meal)
Boundary - P500.00
Net income or take-home pay for driver - P80.00

The above figures pushed the National Leadership of PISTON to file a petition for P1.00 Fare increase as an economic relief. Though PISTON understand that it should not be a solution to the drivers' eroded income, especially so that workers income remain below the poverty threshold, but it would be a martyrdom on their part not to ask for it when their families are dying of hunger.

The poor driver has been reduced to being collectors of super profits for the oil cartel, and value added taxes due to the Arroyo government. Good if these taxes are properly accounted for and appropriated for social services, but it is sad that the powerful family who lives in Malacanang is plundering it.

The Arroyo government is inutile in this situation. It has failed to protect the national interest against profiteering done by the cartel that monopolizes the world oil industry. The Oil Deregulation Law has become a convenient excuse for this government not to take control of the prizing. As a matter of fact, we have learned that Mikey Arroyo heads the House Committee on Energy, while Miriam Defensor Santiago heads the same Committee in the senate. Both committees are supposed to look into all issues relating to the Oil industry, including the investigation as to whether there is overpricing or none, etc. But it so happened that both persons who head such committees are close to the president.

As to the question of what funded the expenses of 30 congressmen who went with the President to her trip to Europe is not clear, we suspect that the fund was part of the proceeds of the recent oil price increases.

With this urgent issue at hand, the PISTON Metro-Baguio Chapter is calling all patriotic Filipinos who are concerned to take action against the continuing exploitation and plunder of the Oil Cartel of the fruit of the sweat of the Filipino People.

Our Calls:
STOP OIL PRICE INCREASE! SCRAP OIL DEREGULATION LAW!
INVESTIGATE THE OVERPRICING OF OIL PRODUCTS!
NATIONALIZE THE OIL INDUSTRY!

Join the PISTON led-Nationally Coordinated Action Protest on December 13, 2007. In Baguio, a March-Rally shall be held starting at 10:00 am, Post Office, before marching down session road to Peoples Park for the rally.

Reference: Carlito B. Wayas
President
PISTON- Metro-Baguio Chapter