DAVAO CITY – Drivers and small operators protested in front of the oil depot of Petron and Chevron in Km. 10, Sasa to demand a big-time rollback in fuel prices despite the recently announced P1 rollback on petroleum products.
Carrying protest signs and shouting slogans, drivers demanded immediate big-time rollbacks consistent with the international price drop in fuel prices.
Charito Junares, chairperson of Transmision-Piston said they condemn the government’s “refusal to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and the 12% E-VAT on oil, which has caused additional suffering to toiling drivers.”
“[President Aquino] failed to command a just and significant rollback in local oil prices as he should considering the decline on Dubai crude oil price,” Junares said.
“Diesel prices should be at the P17 level while P22 for gasoline based on Dubai crude computation. In the global market, fuel prices have now dropped to $42 per barrel from $108 per barrel in June 2014 when diesel was pegged at P44 and P54 for gasoline. However, since Aquino’s boss are big oil corporations and foreign interests, he has turned his back on ordinary drivers,” Junares said.
“What we need now are immediate and big-time rollbacks in fuel prices and price decreases in basic commodities. His ineptitude has reached a tipping point and the drivers and small operators want him gone,” Junares said.
