The revolution's policy on energy
The Filipino people have rightly demanded the scrapping of the oil industry deregulation law in the face of relentless increases in oil prices. Deregulation has been a bane to the people and has merely given foreign oil corporations complete freedom to raise the prices of their products.
Nonetheless, for as long as the semicolonial and semifeudal system exists, any gains achieved with respect to oil industry deregulation and increases in the prices of petroleum products can only be temporary.
It bears remembering that the root of the problem lies in the domination and monopoly control of imperialist oil companies. Therefore, the problem can only be resolved through the revolutionary transformation of the social system both in the Philippines and worldwide.
Only the program for a people's democratic revolution, which calls for the nationalization of the oil industry has such a perspective on this issue. Crude oil imports and refining as well as the distribution of refined oil products will be centralized with the people's democratic state.
At a certain stage and for a defined period, these products may be retailed by private entities, but distribution will, for the most part, be handled by the state.
As to importation, the state will enter into agreements with countries willing to sell crude oil at the lowest prices.
As part of a comprehensive solution, efforts will likewise be made to wean the country from its total dependence on oil imports by devoting sufficient attention and resources to searching for and developing local alternative sources of energy such as natural gas, hydroelectric power, geothermal power and nuclear power, among others. This is aside from exploration to discover local oil reserves.
| 
