Privileged speech on Transport Strike
On the Succesful National Transport Strike Initiated by Different Transport Groups in the Country
Privileged Speech of Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran, April 18, 2005
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, this representation rises on a matter of personal and collective privilege.
Mr. Speaker, this morning and the entire day the country witnessed a nationwide strike initiated by the whole transport sector. The Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) along with other transport groups effected a successful transport paralysis.
In the National Capital Region alone, at least 14 major routes and 40 secondary routes were almost clear of public vehicles. Despite threats from the Philippine National Police and the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board, drivers of jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, pedicabs and trucks continued their protest and massed up this morning in Cubao, Monumento, Novaliches, Alabang, Port Area, Kalayaan Avenue, Taytay, Angono and Baclaran.
The same protest actions were launched happened in Baguio City, Cagayan Valley, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bicol Region, Cebu City, Negros island, Panay island, Eastern Visayas, Davao provinces, Cotabato and General Santos City. We have received information that there was 98 percent transport paralysis in Davao City, and as for most parts of the country were the strike was instigated, the percentage of paralysis was 80-90 percent.
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, the dominant call in today's transport strike is the repeal of Republic Act 8479 or the Oil Deregulation Law. Hindi ang paghingi ng dagdag na singil sa pamasahe ang dahilan ng pagkakaisa ng mga bumubuo sa sektor ng transportasyon, kundi ang napakalakas na panawagan na Ibasura ang Oil Deregulation Law! na siyang dahilan ng walang habas na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis na nagpapahirap sa mamamayan.
This call has encouraged the support and participation in the strike of drivers and operators from the biggest and widest transport organizations in the country.
It has also garnered the support from the different sectors including workers, peasants and urban poor who are the main victims of the relentless series of oil price increases.
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, kung atin nga namang susuriin, wasto at makatarungan ang hinihiling ng mga manggagawa sa transportasyon. Mula ng isabatas ang Oil Deregulation Law noong 1998, ang itinaas ng presyo ng gasolina ay umabot na sa 130%, ang diesel ay 230% at ang liquefied petroleum gas ay 135%.
Nakapagdududa rin na habang ang mamamayan ay hirap na hirap na sa pagpasan ng napakataas na presyo ng langis, ang Petron, Shell at Caltex ay naging 4th, 5th at 7th place respectively sa Philippines' Top 500 Corporations. Ang Petron ay nagkamal ng P3.1 billion habang ang Shell naman ay nagkamal ng P2.6 billion nitong nakaraang taon lamang. Ang mga kinitang ito ay mula sa labis na tubo dulot ng overpricing na ginagawa ng mga kumpanya ng langis.
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, it is high time that this chamber hear the call of the transport sector and other sectors of the Filipino working class and be decisive on this issue of endless oil price hikes.
There is an overwhelming clamor against the oil deregulation law. More than a rollback in oil prices, transport groups and private vehicle owners and consumers are demanding the immediate junking of the oil deregulation law. It's long overdue that this treacherous piece of legislation be scrapped, and its impact reversed. The greedy triumvirate of Shell, Caltex and Petron exploit and continue to exploit the oil deregulation law, and the oil price hikes are tantamount to economic sabotage against the welfare of consumers and the general public.
In the meantime, the Senate's recent approval of the VAT hike bill all the more justifies the urgent need to give out wage increase for workers and wage earners in the private sector. Without a doubt the VAT hike will definitely affect the prices of local petroleum products. Oil companies are now empowered to further abuse their pricing rights and extract more blood money from the public for greater profit. Shell, Caltex and Petron executives must be dancing in their offices because of the VAT.
Hinihingi po ng kinatawang ito, kasama ng iba pang mga progresibong mambabatas sa kapulungang ito, na kagyat nang pag-usapan ng House Committee on Energy ang mga panukalang batas na nag-aamyenda o nananawagan ng pagbasura sa RA 8479, tulad ng House Bill 1065 na ipinanukala ng kinatawang ito. Kasabay pa nito, ay masusing imbestigahan ang pricing mechanism ng mga kumpanya ng langis at parusahan ang mga nag-overprice sa mga produktong petrolyo.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, today's transport strike may be prodded by economic reasons, namely the high prices of diesel and petroleum products - but the orientation is highly political. The public's hackles are raised against the administration and its tax measures, and over-all betrayal of the welfare and interest of the poor and working people. Sa huli, dahil sa pagbalewala ng gobyerno sa mga panawagan ng mga mamamayan para sa mga kagyat na repormang pang-ekonomya, ang pina-pamunuan na mismo ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang aani ng buhawi ng galit at diskontento ng taumbayan.
Ito lamang at isang magandang araw sa ating lahat.#
Privileged Speech of Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran, April 18, 2005
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, this representation rises on a matter of personal and collective privilege.
Mr. Speaker, this morning and the entire day the country witnessed a nationwide strike initiated by the whole transport sector. The Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) along with other transport groups effected a successful transport paralysis.
In the National Capital Region alone, at least 14 major routes and 40 secondary routes were almost clear of public vehicles. Despite threats from the Philippine National Police and the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board, drivers of jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, pedicabs and trucks continued their protest and massed up this morning in Cubao, Monumento, Novaliches, Alabang, Port Area, Kalayaan Avenue, Taytay, Angono and Baclaran.
The same protest actions were launched happened in Baguio City, Cagayan Valley, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bicol Region, Cebu City, Negros island, Panay island, Eastern Visayas, Davao provinces, Cotabato and General Santos City. We have received information that there was 98 percent transport paralysis in Davao City, and as for most parts of the country were the strike was instigated, the percentage of paralysis was 80-90 percent.
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, the dominant call in today's transport strike is the repeal of Republic Act 8479 or the Oil Deregulation Law. Hindi ang paghingi ng dagdag na singil sa pamasahe ang dahilan ng pagkakaisa ng mga bumubuo sa sektor ng transportasyon, kundi ang napakalakas na panawagan na Ibasura ang Oil Deregulation Law! na siyang dahilan ng walang habas na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis na nagpapahirap sa mamamayan.
This call has encouraged the support and participation in the strike of drivers and operators from the biggest and widest transport organizations in the country.
It has also garnered the support from the different sectors including workers, peasants and urban poor who are the main victims of the relentless series of oil price increases.
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, kung atin nga namang susuriin, wasto at makatarungan ang hinihiling ng mga manggagawa sa transportasyon. Mula ng isabatas ang Oil Deregulation Law noong 1998, ang itinaas ng presyo ng gasolina ay umabot na sa 130%, ang diesel ay 230% at ang liquefied petroleum gas ay 135%.
Nakapagdududa rin na habang ang mamamayan ay hirap na hirap na sa pagpasan ng napakataas na presyo ng langis, ang Petron, Shell at Caltex ay naging 4th, 5th at 7th place respectively sa Philippines' Top 500 Corporations. Ang Petron ay nagkamal ng P3.1 billion habang ang Shell naman ay nagkamal ng P2.6 billion nitong nakaraang taon lamang. Ang mga kinitang ito ay mula sa labis na tubo dulot ng overpricing na ginagawa ng mga kumpanya ng langis.
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, it is high time that this chamber hear the call of the transport sector and other sectors of the Filipino working class and be decisive on this issue of endless oil price hikes.
There is an overwhelming clamor against the oil deregulation law. More than a rollback in oil prices, transport groups and private vehicle owners and consumers are demanding the immediate junking of the oil deregulation law. It's long overdue that this treacherous piece of legislation be scrapped, and its impact reversed. The greedy triumvirate of Shell, Caltex and Petron exploit and continue to exploit the oil deregulation law, and the oil price hikes are tantamount to economic sabotage against the welfare of consumers and the general public.
In the meantime, the Senate's recent approval of the VAT hike bill all the more justifies the urgent need to give out wage increase for workers and wage earners in the private sector. Without a doubt the VAT hike will definitely affect the prices of local petroleum products. Oil companies are now empowered to further abuse their pricing rights and extract more blood money from the public for greater profit. Shell, Caltex and Petron executives must be dancing in their offices because of the VAT.
Hinihingi po ng kinatawang ito, kasama ng iba pang mga progresibong mambabatas sa kapulungang ito, na kagyat nang pag-usapan ng House Committee on Energy ang mga panukalang batas na nag-aamyenda o nananawagan ng pagbasura sa RA 8479, tulad ng House Bill 1065 na ipinanukala ng kinatawang ito. Kasabay pa nito, ay masusing imbestigahan ang pricing mechanism ng mga kumpanya ng langis at parusahan ang mga nag-overprice sa mga produktong petrolyo.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, today's transport strike may be prodded by economic reasons, namely the high prices of diesel and petroleum products - but the orientation is highly political. The public's hackles are raised against the administration and its tax measures, and over-all betrayal of the welfare and interest of the poor and working people. Sa huli, dahil sa pagbalewala ng gobyerno sa mga panawagan ng mga mamamayan para sa mga kagyat na repormang pang-ekonomya, ang pina-pamunuan na mismo ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang aani ng buhawi ng galit at diskontento ng taumbayan.
Ito lamang at isang magandang araw sa ating lahat.#
posted at 8:43 PM
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