A member of the Anakpawis party-list has called for a price-freeze to be placed on all petroleum products after a fifth week of hikes was enacted despite monsoons raging in some of the country’s provinces and the capital Manila.
“For humanitarian reasons it is appropriate that the government restrain all price all price hikes. Increasing oil prices automatically pushes the prices of other basic commodities upward. A rollback and freeze in oil prices must be imposed,†said Rafael Mariano (pictured), the Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food.
“These greedy firms really are heartless, hiking oil prices while people are grappling to save their lives and property from the rains. Government must immediately step in to ease this condition made worse by high prices of petroleum products and other necessities,†continued Mariano.
The call was seconded by Anakpawki's vice chairman Fernando Hicap. Mariano also called on the government to freeze prices on vegetables, canned goods and other necessities.