ILOILO City — Mounting public anger over the latest “one-time, big-time” fuel price increase spilled onto the streets of Iloilo City as consumers and progressive organizations demanded the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, warning that the unprecedented hike would ignite another wave of inflation and further squeeze Filipino households.
Led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayang (BAYAN)-Panay, protesters staged a picket rally on July 21, denouncing what they described as unchecked oil price increases under the country’s deregulated oil industry and urging the national government to intervene to protect consumers.
The protest came after the Department of Energy (DOE) announced hefty fuel price increases of ₱10.68 per liter for diesel, ₱11.77 per liter for kerosene, and ₱3.65 per liter for gasoline, citing heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
However, demonstrators questioned the justification for the steep adjustments, saying oil companies should be held accountable and that the public deserves greater transparency in fuel pricing.
The Panay Consumers Alliance (PCA) said the Oil Deregulation Law should be revisited, arguing that it allows oil firms to impose price adjustments with little government oversight while ordinary Filipinos bear the brunt of escalating fuel costs.
During the rally, protesters warned that higher fuel prices would inevitably drive up transportation fares and the prices of basic commodities, worsening the financial burden on workers, commuters, and low-income families.
Students from various organizations joined the demonstration, expressing solidarity with consumers and criticizing what they described as the government’s failure to shield the public from the economic impact of rising oil prices. They likewise called for decisive government action to protect consumers from further financial hardship.
BAYAN-Panay described the latest fuel price hike as being driven by “mere speculations” and renewed its call for the immediate repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law to prevent what it called unchecked increases imposed by oil companies.
The groups also urged the government to remove the Value-Added Tax (VAT) and excise tax on petroleum products, saying such measures would provide immediate relief to Filipinos struggling with rising fuel expenses.
Protesters further criticized the Marcos administration for what they described as its failure to ease the economic burden on the public despite emergency powers previously granted by Congress, arguing that these authorities should have been used to regulate oil prices and cushion consumers from the effects of deregulated fuel markets.
The rally ended with renewed calls for reforms in the country’s fuel pricing system and stronger government action to safeguard consumers from escalating fuel costs and their broader economic consequences./PN
