QUEZON CITY, Philippines (08 March 2022) – Oil prices increase yet again this week by P5.85 for a liter of diesel, P4.10 for kerosene, and P3.60 for gasoline, as the military conflict in Ukraine continues.
Reacting to this, Greenpeace campaigner Rhea Jane Pescador-Mallari said:
“The oil price hikes reveal how, unfortunately, communities pay the price of the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. Such a crisis will widen urban social injustices, as it means higher transport costs and higher prices for food, utilities, and other basic necessities.
“We demand that our national and local governments must urgently implement a coherent strategy that will enable Filipinos to withstand these price hikes, which will likely be recurring as the climate and planetary crises worsen. We must explore sustainable solutions such as shorter value chains for goods and services, alternative delivery systems and relocalization – which entails strengthening local production and manufacturing. Promoting active citizen participation, through listening to the needs of communities and providing platforms for them to be heard and their needs addressed, will also help LGUs and communities to cope better with current and future crises.
“We mustn’t forget that our best shot at preventing such a catastrophe is phasing out fossil fuels entirely. This crisis has shown us that fossil fuels are not only destructive to our environment, but also inflexible and unstable. This is a wake up call for the Philippine government to expedite its shift toward renewable energy.
“With an already fraught economy due to the ongoing pandemic, the worst case scenario is a system collapse within our communities – where ordinary citizens, especially vulnerable sectors, are faced with scarcity, and the inability to obtain sufficient basic necessities. At this stage, it is essential for our national and local leaders – including our incoming government – to wean the country from its dependence on fossil fuels, and put the people and the planet at the top of their priorities.”
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Media Contact:
Maverick Flores
Communications Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia-Philippines
+639176211552 | [email protected]
Maria Katrina Eusebio
Digital Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia-Philippines+639992296451 | [email protected]