The Church People-Workers’ Solidarity (CWS) calls on government to listen to the demands of the transport and other groups launching a transport strike against high oil price increases, saying that the people have a right to protest, “to participate in social and economic life” and to work for the common good (cf. Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 333).

Quoting the  Church’s social teachings,  Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, one of the convenors of CWS said that “governments must work for the realization of the common good. It has also the duty to protect the rights of all its people, and particularly of its weaker members, the workers, women and children. (Blessed John XXIII’s Mater
et Magistra, # 20)”

“Oil price has increased more than 20 times since January 2011, and this is causing added burden not only to drivers and operators but to workers, peasants, fisherfolks, and their families.”

Transport groups are calling for P9.00 per liter rollback of price of all oil products, as overpricing in oil prices since last year has reportedly reached to P9.00 per liter as a result of the monopoly of the Big 3 (Shell, Petron and Caltex) and the government’s deregulation
policy.

“In a situation where workers receive very little wages, the unabated oil price hikes erode the value of our workers’ income since prices of basic commodities also shoot up. The effect is far worse for workers whose jobs and income are both irregular.”

Ibon, an independent research institution, says that increases in oil prices are driving inflation.

Bishop Alminaza is also concerned of reports that both oil companies and the Philippine government are raking in billions in profits and revenues at the expense of the ordinary consumers.

According to Ibon Foundation, the profits of the oil firms since 2001 have  totaled to P141.7 B in 2010.

The Philippine government has also been getting revenues of P48 billion pesos annually or a total of P239.6 B in the last five years due to the 12% VAT on oil, according to a study by Ibon.

“Profit at the expense of the poor is immoral and unjust. The Church is very clear in its teachings that the well-being of our toiling brothers and sisters should come first before profit. Government must regulate oil industry  to moderate the greed of private oil firms.
The welfare of the majority must be prioritized,” Alminaza added.

Alminaza said the government must heed the calls for the review of the oil deregulation policy and for the removal of VAT on oil products.

A legitimate strike

Meanwhile, Garry Martinez, spokesperson of the CWS, also reacted to the threat of Malacañang and PNP that they will arrest  those who will join the transport strike.

“The transport strike is a lawful exercise of a constitutional right to freedom of expression and of assembly. It is a legitimate form of action of the people, so that those in power will be able to listen to the people’s demands,” Martinez said.

“The Aquino administration must show the political will to stop the big oil companies from imposing unreasonable prices.  The proposed extension of pantawid pasada program (PPP) which Aquino promised to prevent transport groups from staging the strike is not the solution. The PPP budget of P450 million is not even 1% of the government’s annual revenue from VAT on oil. The transport sector together with the people must be firm in its calls to rollback oil prices, to end the control of the oil cartel and remove VAT on oil.”###

Reference:
Bp. Gerardo Alminaza, Convenor CWS
Gary Martinez, Spokesperson CWS, 0939-3914418

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