http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080710-147555/Metro-students-walk-out-of-classrooms-vs-oil-price-hike

By Abigail Kwok, Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:31:00 07/10/2008

MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE 3) Police foiled an attempt by student activists who walked out of their classrooms to protest continued oil price hikes to reach historic Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola), near Malacañang Palace in Manila, for a rally on Thursday.

The protesters, estimated by police at 200, held their program instead on the intersection of Morayta and Recto streets, after personnel of the Manila Police District (MPD) barricaded the road.

MPD Station 4 commander Ricardo Layug said the protesters did not have a permit to stage a rally on Mendiola. Although Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has reopened the foot of the bridge, once declared a no-rally zone, to protests, these are allowed only on weekends and holidays.

At the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, youth groups expressed anger over the unabated increases in the prices of basic commodities.

Around 100 activists from Adamson University, UP-Manila, and Philippine Christian University held a short program on Manila’s busy Taft Avenue then marched to the University of Sto. Tomas to join up with other contingents for the attempt to reach Mendiola.

Among the student groups that joined the protest were the National Union of Students of the Phil, College Editor Guild of the Phil, Kabataang Pinoy, Student Christian Movement, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Youth Revolt, Anakbayan and League Of Filipino Students.

“Sobra na. Tama na ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Galit na ang estudyante kaya nila inirerehistro ang kanilang galit sa administrasyong ito [Enough. The rise in the prices f basic commodities must stop. The students are angry and we are letting this administration know],” said Jacqueline Eroles, member of the university student council.

Students even called the recently approved fare increase a “burden to commuters and will not address the problems of drivers,” said Vencer Crisostomo, president of the League of Filipino Students.

Crisostomo said what was needed was a “fare decrease,” and for oil companies to lower their profits.

“It is a moral imperative to regulate prices. The subsidies are useless and insulting and capitalizing on the poor’s desperation for public relations,” he added.

Youth groups also criticized the government’s refusal to scrap the value added tax (VAT) on oil.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could easily order the cancellation of the 12 percent VAT on oil and decisively direct Congress to repeal the oil deregulation law,” said Ridon.

“The government has done nothing…it is the duty of students, to demand for the immediate revision of flawed government policies that caused these unabated rise in prices,” said Ridon.

Protesting students barred from Mendiola
Metro students walk out vs oil price hike
By Katherine Evangelista, Abigail Kwok
MANILA, Philippines — Police foiled an attempt by student activists who walked out of their classrooms to protest continued oil price hikes to reach historic Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola), near Malacañang Palace in Manila, for a rally on Thursday.

The protesters, estimated by police at 200, held their program and burned an effigy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the intersection of Morayta and Recto streets instead, after personnel of the Manila Police District (MPD) barricaded the road.

MPD Station 4 commander Ricardo Layug said the protesters did not have a permit to stage a rally on Mendiola. Although Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has reopened the foot of the bridge, once declared a no-rally zone, to protests, these are allowed only on weekends and holidays.

Protest organizers and police reached an agreement for the activists to hold an hour-long program and then disperse peacefully.

At the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, youth groups expressed anger over the unabated increases in the prices of basic commodities.

Around 100 activists from Adamson University, UP-Manila, and Philippine Christian University held a short program on Manila’s busy Taft Avenue then marched to the University of Sto. Tomas to join up with other contingents for the attempt to reach Mendiola.

Among the student groups that joined the protest were the National Union of Students of the Phil, College Editor Guild of the Phil, Kabataang Pinoy, Student Christian Movement, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, Youth Revolt, Anakbayan, Serve the People UP (STEP-UP), and League of Filipino Students.

Other contingents came from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of the East, Far Eastern University, and the Araullo, Sauyo and Culiat High Schools in Manila.

Similar protests were also held in Cebu, Metro Baguio, Los Baños, Davao and Negros Provinces, the activists said.

“Sobra na. Tama na ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Galit na ang estudyante kaya nila inirerehistro ang kanilang galit sa administrasyong ito [Enough. The rise in the prices of basic commodities must stop. The students are angry and we are letting this administration know],” said Jacqueline Eroles, member of the university student council.

Students even called the recently approved fare increase a “burden to commuters and will not address the problems of drivers,” said Vencer Crisostomo, president of the League of Filipino Students.

Crisostomo said what was needed was a “fare decrease,” and for oil companies to lower their profits.

“It is a moral imperative to regulate prices. The subsidies are useless and insulting and capitalizing on the poor’s desperation for public relations,” he added.

Youth groups also criticized the government’s refusal to scrap the value added tax (VAT) on oil.

Youth Revolt spokesperson Mark Louie Aquino said they have launched a campaign to gather at least a million signatures for a petition to repeal the oil deregulation law and scrap the VAT on oil. They will present the petition to the House of Representative and the Senate.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could easily order the cancellation of the 12 percent VAT on oil and decisively direct Congress to repeal the oil deregulation law,” said Terry Ridon, spokesperson of STEP-UP and former UP student regent.

“The government has done nothing…it is the duty of students, to demand for the immediate revision of flawed government policies that caused these unabated rise in prices,” Ridon said.

Thursday’s rally is only the first in a series of student protests to assert their “categorical statement on the economic crisis,” Ridon said, adding the next mass action on July 18 will be much bigger than Thursday’s.

Youth activists are also gearing up to join massive protests expected on July 28, when Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address.

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