Kadamay calls on motorists, commuters to support 5-minute EDSA blockade vs OPH

PRESS RELEASE
March 14, 2012

Urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) called on motorists and commuters to support the five-minute EDSA blockade at 6pm on March 15, a big people's protest against the inaction of the Aquino administration on the oil price increase and overpricing scheme of the oil cartel.

The group plans on Thursday to barricade the North Triangle area, a major Kadamay bailiwick, popular for its EDSA barricade against demolition of homes. The group expected hundreds of urban poor residents to join the blockade, as well as thousands of motorists and commuters whose trip will be temporarily delayed.

"We only ask for five minutes of their trip to register our strongest opposition to the seeming collusion between Malacanang and the oil cartel at the expense of the majority of the Filipinos," said Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national secretary-general to EDSA commuters and motorists.

"It would need our united effort to bring the Aquino administration to its knees for its subservience to the oil cartel," Arellano added.

The militant group blamed the unhampered oil price hikes behind the increase in basic commodities primarily food.

“Every centavo counts to the urban poor. While the government cannot act on unhampered oil price hikes, the urban poor are helpless as the prices of basic commodities increase as well,” Kadamay statement said.

"While the government continues to protect the oil cartel and does nothing against its profiteering scheme, Aquino has no right to absolve himself of the soaring number of Filipinos who go hungry or consider themselves for poor," Arellano added.

Kadamay with other militant organizations under Koalisyon ng Progresibong Manggagawa at Mamamayan (KPMM) and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Thursday will stage a nationwide coordinated protest against the oil price hikes.

According to Kadamay, “Filipinos should look at Nigerians as model in forcing the government to act on the oil price increases in the country. Nigerians have launched massive protests in January after the Nigerian government removed its subsidies on fuel prices.”

"That Aquino administration has obviously acted as a puppet of the imperialist oil companies. While Aquino nails the measly wage of workers as the unemployment rate is at a record-high, Filipinos cannot accommodate any increase in basic goods brought by the unhampered oil price hikes. We have no choice but to act now," Arellano said.

Reference: Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national secretary-general, 0921.392.7457