Bayan Muna protested in front of the Petron gas station on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on May 19 to denounce the new increase in petroleum prices. Implemented on May 20, the price hike ranges from ₱1.10 to ₱1.30 per liter for gasoline, ₱1.60-₱1.80 for diesel, and ₱0.95-₱1.40 for kerosene.

Former Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said this significant increase in petroleum prices is a burden for consumers, drivers and operators of public transportation, and ordinary Filipinos. He added that this is seemingly a “calculated move” imposed after the May 12 elections to avoid the public’s focused anger.

“This latest round of oil price hikes, coming conveniently after the elections, confirms what we have long been saying: oil companies manipulate prices at will with little to no government intervention,” Representative Zarate said.

Since January, major corporations in the country have implemented price increases for petroleum eleven times while rolling back prices ten times during the same period. As a result, the net increase has reached ₱4 for gasoline and ₱3.80 for diesel.

Rep. Zarate said a sudden significant price hike is very difficult to accept after two weeks of rollbacks. “Oil companies wantonly raise and lower prices, while the government merely watches,” Zarate emphasized.

He also condemned the Department of Energy (DOE) for passively accepting the oil companies’ explanations regarding the price increases, citing global factors such as the US-China tariff agreement and US sanctions on Iran’s oil trade.

“The DOE should be more proactive in protecting consumers instead of merely echoing the oil companies’ explanations. Where is the government’s independent verification of these price adjustments? Where is the transparency in the computation of these increases?” he asked.

He added, “if international factors truly have an effect, why do companies respond so quickly to price increases, but are so slow at lowering prices?”

The former congressman and Bayan Muna again demanded the government to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law for the welfare of the people. This law allows arbitrary increases in petroleum prices.

Representative Zarate urged the public to remain vigilant and join protests against the continued exploitation by oil companies.

“The Filipino people deserve better than being at the mercy of profit-hungry corporations. We must collectively demand accountability and genuine reforms in the oil industry,” he said.