PISTON hits Oil Deregulation Law, fuel tax for high gas prices

By Brandon Jon Yulolo

The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) in Bicol blamed the Oil Deregulation Law and and the imposition of excise tax on petroleum products for the skyrocketing prices of fuel products and called for their scrapping to provide relief to the affected sectors.

Joel Pillogo, PISTON Bicol spokesperson, said that although the ongoing war between Russian and Ukraine contributed to the continuing increase in oil prices, the same is not the primary reason for the fuel price hikes in the country.

“Noong nakaraang taon, malaki rin yung itinaas ng produktong petrolyo. Wala pa yung giyera sa pagitan ng Ukraine at Russia. Ang isa pa, napakaliit na porsiyento lang ang inaangkat natin na langis sa mga European country. Halos ang malaking porsiyento talaga na pinagkukunan natin na langis ay galing sa China at iba pang mga bansa tulad ng Singapore at South Korea,” Pillogo said.

According to the Department of Energy, as of 2020, China was the top contributor of oil in the Philippines, with 31 percent of its supply being sold at gas stations. On the other hand, Russia only contributed 0.4 percent of their oil products to the Philippine market.

“Kami dito sa PISTON, ang isa sa mga panawagan talaga namin ay ibasura ang Oil Deregulation Law. Dahil kasi dito sinasabi ng gobyerno na wala silang magawa sa pagtaas ng presyo pagdating sa produktong petrolyo kasi pribado. Nag-umpisa kasi ito sa panahon ni Ramos kung saan nilagdaan ang batas na ito para mas maging mura yung bentahan ng petrolyo pero ang nangyari mas ginamit lang yun ng mga kompanya para taasan lalo ang presyo na walang magagawa ang gobyerno. Ang isa na nagpapabigat din yung patong-patong na excise tax sa produktong petrolyo, kung makikita natin halos 15 pesos ang matitipid natin kada litro kung matanggal ito,” Pillogo added.

Earlier in March this year, Malacañang asked Congress to review the Oil Deregulation Law after successive increases in global oil prices However, because of the national and local elections, the House of Representatives and the Senate were not able to calendar the matter for discussion.

To recall, Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the removal of excise tax on petroleum products even before the 2022 elections in order to mitigate the adverse effects of the high fuel prices on the economy.