Various militant groups staged a protest on Monday in front of a major oil company branch along Philcoa, Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, condemning the impending hike in fuel product prices set to take effect at 6:00 AM on Tuesday, June 24.
RH Val Gonzales reported, that the protest lasted for nearly 30 minutes, which progressive groups such as Bayan Muna, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), Anakpawis and others, voiced strong opposition to what they called another burden on ordinary Filipinos already grappling with the soaring cost of living.
“Ang laging sinasabi ng gobyerno ay wala raw magagawa dahil sa nagaganap na agresyon sa Iran at sa mga bansa. At sa atin po mga kasama, mula pa lamang ng pumasok ang January ng 2025 ay wala nang habas ang pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo dito sa ating bansa,” said PISTON National President Mody Floranda during the protest.
The groups demanded the immediate suspension of the excise tax and the value-added tax (VAT) on oil products, calling on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration to take decisive steps in addressing the worsening oil crisis.
They argued that urgent action is necessary to provide genuine relief to the public, especially to low-income earners who are most affected by fuel price surges.
The protesters also urged Congress to prioritize legislative measures that would help bring down oil prices — particularly through the removal of excise taxes and VAT.
The protest comes amid rising global tensions in the Middle East, which have again been cited as a major factor influencing fuel prices in the Philippines.
However, the groups stressed that domestic policy reforms are long overdue.
They also called for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, which they described as a long-standing cause of unchecked price increases and corporate profiteering in the oil industry.
As the government braces for another round of fuel hikes, progressive organizations say they will continue to mobilize until genuine solutions are pursued and the economic burden on Filipinos is eased.
PISTON stressed that they are set to hold another protest on Tuesday to continue voicing their opposition to rising fuel prices.
However, the group clarified that the upcoming demonstration will not be a transport strike, and regular public transportation services will continue during the protest.
Based on the DOE's forecast last week, an increase of over ₱4 per liter will be implemented this week for certain petroleum products. Diesel prices may rise by ₱4.30 to ₱4.80 per liter, while kerosene is expected to increase by ₱4.25 to ₱4.40 per liter.
Meanwhile, gasoline prices are also projected to go up by ₱2.50 to ₱3.00 per liter.
