Corporate indifference to consumers’ plight

This refers to the article titled “Shell to raise prices twice a week.” (Inquirer, 9/7/11) This means Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. raising prices eight times a month or 32 times more for the rest of the year! Shell never mentioned anything about rollbacks, if any, for the same period. Worse, the government agency concerned seems to be unusually silent on the matter.

In obvious indifference to the plight of the consuming public, Shell looks consistent in implementing its price increases always ahead of the other oil players. Shell is, likewise, too cocksure of this pronouncement and appears not to give a hoot as to the predicament of those affected by its callous attitude.

Shell’s reason for raising prices is the cost of oil in the world market. Such justification is entirely inequitable, odiously erroneous and betrays unmitigated greed for profit in times of want.

Contrary to its myopic and warped ratiocinations, the other oil players, Unioil and Petron included, have managed to keep their operations profitable without raising prices.

Nevertheless, there is a way for the oil-dependent public to combat the corrupt, depraved and devious tendency of Shell to earn huge profits at the expense of the general motoring public: (1) by simply boycotting all Shell products and services in the market through the initiative of the militants and other interested parties; (2) by conducting an honest-to-goodness government audit of Shell’s books of account; (3) and, if warranted, by filing corresponding charges of economic sabotage and, thereafter, (4) by nationalizing the company. The last step will test the mettle of this administration and its commitment to adhere to its “matuwid na daan” journey.

It is about time the people acted in concert and the government served its purpose to provide good governance. After all, even patience has its limits.

—RICKY A. JUAB,

GE Garcia Law Office, G/F Laiko Bldg., Cabildo Street, Intramuros, Manila