Government Employees to Join September 19 People’s Protest and Transport Strike
Submitted by courage_phil on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 03:26.
“We refuse to be deceived by the administration’s attempts to pacify drivers and the people by reducing the issue to mere kotong cops and extortion. Rank-and-file government employees will take part in the September 19 People’s Protest and transport strike against oil overpricing.”
This was the statement of the national center of government employees, the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) in reaction to Malacañang’s statement that the planned protest and transport strike has been averted. According to COURAGE National President Ferdinand R. Gaite, yesterday’s dialogue between transport leaders and the Palace has yielded nothing substantial for poor drivers and commuters reeling from overpriced oil and petroleum products.
“Aquino’s statements during the dialogue are reflective of his inability to craft sound economic policies to answer the country’s fiscal woes. As always, he is using rhetoric to cloud the issue and to garner more “pogi points” for his administration. We challenge Noynoy to directly address the problem of oil overpricing and other issues compounding the peoples’ woes: the oil deregulation law, the monopoly pricing of the Big 3 oil cartel and the Value Added Tax on oil,” said Gaite.
“Aquino is obviously skirting the issue in an attempt to undermine the peoples’ (not just the transport sector) mounting protests. The point is to see how the apparent overpricing of oil and other petroleum products are affecting the lives of drivers and commuters that are reeling from the soaring prices of basic commodities and services. Added to the meager salaries received by employees and workers, the oil price hikes are an added burden to us. That is why COURAGE and all its’ affiliate unions are taking part in the September 19 People’s Protest. We are also calling on the public to support the protest against oil overpricing and for the scrapping of the oil deregulation law,” Gaite concluded.
COURAGE affiliates are geared to set up protest centers in front of the National Housing Authority, at Araneta Square, Monumento and at LRT Quirino Station (Northbound) on the 19th. ###
PRESS RELEASE
For September 16, 2011
References: Ferdinand R. Gaite, National President
: Jen Mendoza, Media Liaison