Kilusang Mayo Uno

pinilak ang pakikibaka ng mga manggagawa sa pangunguna ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)

NEWS RELEASE

February 13, 2005

 Labor group hits GMA’s staged ‘LQ’ with oil companies

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today hits Malacañang’s order for oil firms to give a ‘written explanation” on their new round of price increases describing it as a ruse to dock critics on its 2% additional value added tax (VAT).The climb in prices came despite the strengthening of the peso against the dollar.

KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog scored the decision as a staged love quarrel (LQ) between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the big oil companies which he said have long ago signed an unwritten sweetheart deal, “They both benefit from deregulated increase in the prices of petroleum products. Mrs. Arroyo continues to reap mammoth taxes from the oil companies’ sales and the companies are able to raise their prices unhampered.’

Labog also scored the exclusion of the no pass-on provision in the Reformed VAT. The non-inclusion of this provision, he said, is advantageous for the oil companies while the end-consumers, the small drivers and the ordinary people are the ones who suffer from the increases. Global oil companies meanwhile recently posted record profits.

“Yes, we want a written explanation from the oil companies,” insisted Labog, “and we also want a written explanation from Mrs. Arroyo why she has, in these times of economic crisis in the ordinary people’s livelihood, advocated an anti-people and regressive tax laws.”

The labor leader also demanded that Mrs. Arroyo should give a full disclosure on the fertilizer scam, EO 464, electoral fraud issues and all her ‘sins’ to the Filipinos.

“Mrs. Arroyo broke our hearts,” Labog added in face of the government’s disregard for the workers’ unceasing call for a decent wage hike.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Caltex Philippines Inc. and Petron Corp. headed other gas firms in shooting up the gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices by 50 centavos per liter over the weekend.

Apart from this, the prices of unleaded gasoline went up by 70 centavos per liter while diesel went up by 60 centavos per liter as a consequence of the 2% additional VAT. The prices of LPG rose between P8.90 and P9.80 per kg.

The labor group meanwhile scored the statement by the leaders of some transport group that they will continue their .50 cents fare discount in face of the .50 centavos diesel hike, “There is a clear clandestine politics behind this political gimmick because these transport leaders are not defending the interests of their constituents. Instead of protesting the oil increases, they are being use as pawns of the Arroyo government and the oil companies to hide the fact that the ordinary drivers cannot anymore afford oil price hikes and additional taxes.”###

posted by: KMU at 06:06 | link | comments |

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