P-Noy evades real issues, offers “palliatives” to avert a transport strike

PRESS STATEMENT

September 15, 2011

Dante Lagman, PMT President

Reaction to Malacanang - Transport Groups Dialogue:

P-Noy evades real issues,

offers “palliatives” to avert a transport strike

The statement of P-Noy for a review of the oil deregulation law, at best, is pure and simple “muddleheaded-ness”. The facts are as clear as daylight. The deregulation of the oil industry caused the scourge of unbridled oil price hikes. To expect prices to fall in an industry dominated by monopolies is not only wishful thinking, it is an illusion conjured by transnational oil companies to amass higher profit margins at the expense of the Filipino people.

Inutile Review. Yes, a policy review is necessary not to determine if deregulation causes an increase in oil prices; but to seek measures on how to shift the oil industry back to a regulated market.

The promised Malacanang review of oil deregulation is useless and futile; like a fireman telling a tenant of the need to study the effects of water on fire before rescuing his burning house.

Palliatives to douse water on a brewing transport strike. Yesterday’s dialogue was enough to conclude that Noynoy will remain deaf to the clamor for government control of oil prices, a pressing need not just of the transport sector but of the entire Filipino people. This conclusion is based on two premises: (1) the inutile review of deregulation rather than a study to revert to a policy of regulation, (2) the proposed part two of the Pantawid Pasada Program, the use of alternative fuel, and the abuse of “kotong” cops on transport workers.

Rather than focus on the pressing issue at hand (the reversal of the oil deregulation law), Aquino proposed measures that would not even lift an ounce in the burden of oil price hikes. It is a sad re-run his of “wang-wang” measures, which are mere publicity stunts, intended to avert a nationwide protest by the transport sector.

The use of alternative fuel – a long-term solution – would serve the selfish interests of some members of the dialogue panel, since they are now venturing into such businesses.

All Systems Go for Nationwide Protests. The PMT would push through with nationwide localized protests for: (1) the prosecution of oil companies for excessive and unjust profiteering, (2) an urgent P9/liter rollback in petroleum products, (3) the repeal of the oil deregulation law, and (4) that removal of VAT of oil and basic commodities. From September 19 to 24, we will conduct mass actions in NCR, Calamba, Lipa, Malolos, Cabanatuan, Imus, Baguio, La Trinidad, Bacolod, Silay, Cebu, Tacloban, CDO, Ozamis, Zamboanga and Davao. #