President Aquino should order a review of the Oil Industry Deregulation Law

PISTON's George San Mateo says they will push thru with their nationwide strike this Monday. San Mateo announced the plan shortly after meeting with President Benigno Aquino III. PISTON says the "meeting" was just a "courtesy call" and nothing happened with the so-called "dialogue".


Demands for a review and repeal of the Oil Price deregulation law, and filing of charges against giant oil companies are some of the appeals of the transport group. Oil companies have been jacking up their prices in wanton fashion since a month ago. Several groups accuse these companies of abusing the "liberality" given to them by the law. Many sectors of Philippine society are demanding for a review of the law while others say, government should at least impose price controls to stem the rising prices of goods, services and products. These are the effects of oil price hikes.


Oil prices are indeed exorbitant. We have the highest pump oil prices in the region, and to think that we are a struggling Third World country. People are really finding it extremely hard to cope up with these price hikes, what with the rising inflation, unemployment and underemployment.


President Aquino should side with the masses. There is nothing wrong with giving in to the demands of the people directly affected by these oil price hikes. Why protect the asses of these oil companies? They report to their mother companies abroad, and they report profits, at the expense of the riding public. 


This is also one thing that the DOTC needs to look into. Mar Roxas, department secretary, has to strengthen his relationship with the transport sector to be able to directly address their concerns. If he has plans come 2013 or 2016, this is the time to shine. The public will remember this day when those who claim to love the people, sided with the mobsters in corporate attire.

Transport Strike Paralyzes RP

PISTON President George San Pedro said that today's transport strike paralyzed 80 to 90% of all transport operations from Luzon to Mindanao. The Bicol region has been rendered 90% paralyzed while other areas report between 60 to 90% paralysis.

As a reaction, small oil players reportedly planned to slash their pump prices by as much as 5 pesos per liter. This is still lower than the 8 pesos they're supposed to give us, based on calculations by the Consumer Oil Price Watch and the NEDA.

There's unfortunate news however. The regional president of PISTON-Condor in the Bicol region was shot and killed allegedly by military agents. Joel Ascudia was shot in broad daylight this morning. He sustained two bullet wounds in the back. Assassins riding in a motorcycle shot Ascudia.