ILOILO City — Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)–Panay assailed the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration for what it described as a “detached and callous” response to soaring fuel prices, warning that the crisis is already inflicting severe economic strain on transport workers, farmers, and ordinary consumers.
Bayan-Panay secretary-general Elmer Forro said the government’s insistence that “everything is normal” despite pump prices breaching P110 per liter reflects a failure to grasp the realities on the ground.
“Nearly three weeks after the war of aggression against Iran, the Marcos Jr. government continues to insist that ‘everything is normal,’ even as oil prices have surged,” Forro said, adding that the President’s remark thanking oil companies for maintaining prices “only deepens public outrage.”
The group argued that the current pricing system is fundamentally flawed, blaming the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998 for stripping the government of its power to regulate fuel prices and leaving consumers vulnerable to market-driven increases.
Bayan-Panay cited data showing diesel prices have risen by as much as P50 to P60 per liter since March 1, with taxes further inflating costs.
“Excise taxes and VAT add around 15 to 18 percent — or P15 to P20 per liter — to already high pump prices,” Forro said.
The group noted that fuel prices in the Philippines remain among the highest in Southeast Asia, contrasting them with lower, state-subsidized rates in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Forro also criticized what he called the government’s “sluggish and inadequate” response, particularly the fuel subsidy program for affected sectors.
“Drivers are now incurring an additional P1,000 to P1,200 daily in fuel costs. A P5,000 subsidy will only last about a week,” he said, adding that promised assistance for farmers and fisherfolk — pegged at P2,300 — will not be released until May.
He further alleged that the subsidy rollout is “highly selective,” claiming that in Iloilo City, aid will prioritize cooperative members and registered voters.
“This scheme appears more concerned with controlling distribution for political gain rather than delivering timely relief,” Forro said.
His group called for sweeping reforms, including the rollback of oil prices to P55 per liter, removal of fuel taxes, repeal of the deregulation law, and nationalization of the oil industry.
“We call on Panayanons to unite in defense of our economic rights. Only through collective action can we hold accountable those who profit from our exploitation and a government that has failed to protect its people,” Forro said./PN
