By CESAR JOLITO III

Members of the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) have issued a strong call for government intervention against rising fuel costs, condemning what they described as the continued burden of oil price hikes on Filipino consumers.

In their manifesto, ACCESS President Wennie Sancho sharply criticized the continued increases in petroleum prices and their impact on household budgets, transport fares and the cost of basic goods.

Sancho said consumers are being pushed to their limits, blaming both global oil market conditions and what the group described as government inaction in addressing the recurring price spikes.

“We rise up in outrage against the relentless oil price hikes that suffocate our wallets and strangle our livelihoods,” Sancho said.

“The government’s inaction is a slap in the face, a betrayal of the people’s trust,” he added.

The ACCESS president added that many consumers are already struggling with declining purchasing power as fuel costs continue to rise, resulting in broader economic pressure on families and small businesses.

The group also accused large oil companies of taking advantage of market conditions, urging authorities to strengthen oversight and ensure more transparent pricing mechanisms.

ACCESS stressed that reforms are needed to guarantee fair fuel pricing and prevent excessive profit-taking.

Among its key demands, ACCESS called for an immediate rollback of fuel prices, stricter regulation of oil companies, greater transparency in pricing computations, and stronger government support for local energy production to reduce dependence on imported fuel.

The group further urged the public to unite in demanding reforms, warning that consumers should not remain passive amid what it described as an unfair and burdensome energy pricing system./CJ, WDJ