'Energy Sec. Almendras acts like a paid employee of the oil cartel'--Kadamay

PRESS RELEASE
14 February 2012


MANILA, Philippines - "The Department of Energy (DOE) should shut its mouth if all it can say is about impending oil price hikes."

This is the statement of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), an urban poor group, on DOE's Monday alert to motorist of a looming oil price hike in diesel and gasoline in the coming days. The DOE said imported fuels rose by $1 to $4/barrel in the international market. A dollar increase usually translates to a P0.30 to P0.35/liter increase.

According to the militant group, "The DOE should stop acting as the spokesperson for the oil companies, and Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras seems to be a cartel's paid employee whose task is to make sure every oil price hike will reach the public smoothly with the proper consent from the government."

Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national secretary-general said, "the DOE has never spoke about the effect of the 'overpricing scheme' done by the oil cartel on ordinary people, who is actually paying for his service."

"Every cent of increase in the price of oil has great significance on millions of Filipino small farmers, drivers, urban poor and the rest of the toiling masses," she added.

Since January, gasoline prices already have a net upward movement of P3.10/liter, and diesel of P1.30/liter. This does not yet include the impending hike this week of around P0.80 for diesel and P0.40 for gasoline.

"As the price of oil surges on a weekly basis, how can ordinary consumers cope up with the subsequent price hikes on basic commodities, especially food?" Arellano asked.

The group vowed to stage protest actions every time the oil cartel announces its plan to raise the price of oil in the local market.

"If President Aquino has reviewed Oil Deregulation Law (ODL), as he promised the people last year, any fluctuation on the price of oil in the world market would have less influence on the its price in the local market," Arellano said.

"Aquino must push his party-mates Congressmen to pass House Bill 4317, a bill proposed by Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano which aims to scrap the ODL," she added. Kadamay said ODL in its fourteen year of existence has only legalized oil cartel's massive profiteering scheme.###


Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay)
Militant Center of the Urban Poor in the Philippines
Reference: Gloria 'Ka Bea' Arellano, national secretary-general (09213927457)