Various groups belonging to the Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Konsyumer Para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (Suki Network) conducted a protest and noise barrage on March 14 in markets across Metro Manila to call for lower prices of food, goods, and utilities. They held the action one day before the marking of the World Consumer Rights Day.

Suki Network member organizations reportedly launched picket protests at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City, at Trabajo Market and Marikina Clock Tower in Marikina City, and at Pasig Market. Youth students together with workers also held a separate protest to oppose the increase in train fare charges.

Suki Network also trooped to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) office to deliver a petition calling on Ferdinand Marcos Jr and the National Price Coordinating Council to address their demands. According to the network, the government of the Philippines should be held accountable for the soaring prices of basic necessities that burden the Filipino masses.

Ordinary Filipinos are now shouldering the high price of rice that is way above the promised ₱20 per kilo. The price of LPG also had successive increases amounting to ₱0.70 per kilo or ₱7 per tank. Starting April, water charges will also increase by ₱0.04 per cubic meter according to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. Meralco already increased electricity rates by ₱0.26 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) this March.

“Real solutions are needed, but the Marcos Jr administration has only continued or reinforced its predecessors’ policies that failed to lower or even bloated prices,” the network stated.

Among these policies, according to the network, are the currently implemented Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act 11203 and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law that the Duterte administration started. Taxes such as value-added tax (VAT) and excise tax on oil and utilities are also increasing bills, it added.

The petition submitted to the DTI contains proposed steps and solutions that they see as effective in lowering the prices of goods. These include eliminating layers of taxes, implementing government price controls, halting privatization of basic services, ending importation tied to unequal agreements, bolstering local agriculture and industry, and combating government corruption.”

“How can Filipinos even live decently if prices keep rising without significant wage increases? Farmers already suffered losses from the effects of calamities and high farming costs,” Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women secretary general and Gabriela Women’s Party second nominee Cathy Estavillo said.

She said, “we have long told the government what needs to be done…but the Marcos Jr government is deaf and insensitive.”