BY GERARD NAVAL

LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN Archbishop Oscar Cruz yesterday said the rollback in diesel prices showed it is feasible and calls for lower prices of fuel products are just being ignored by the government and oil companies.

The oil firms implemented a P3 price hike on diesel Saturday. The following day, Malacañang announced that Petron Corp. and Pilipinas Shell, two of the Big 3 oil players, had agreed to President Arroyo’s request for a P1.50 rollback, which took effect yesterday.

"This only shows that gas, oil and diesel prices can and should be regulated just as salaries and other prices," said Cruz, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Cruz also said Arroyo’s rollback move and all the pro-poor programs she has recently started implementing were meant to earn brownie points in time for her state of the nation address on Monday.

"Malacañang is just trying to reduce its negative satisfaction rating," said Cruz, referring to the latest Social Weather Stations survey which showed Arroyo’s satisfaction rating at a record-low of negative 38 for presidents since 1986.

It may also be assumed, Cruz said, that oil companies are really not losing money from steep world oil prices as they have been claiming since January when they started implementing weekly price hikes.

"Oil corporations are really earning a lot. Why else will they be here, still doing business, if they are not earning much?" he said.

POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION?

Senators said the rollback negates the oil firms’ claim for the need to recover losses from the global rise in oil products.

"This is a welcome move but the question now in the minds of the public is, is this merely a political accommodation? Is this temporary? Is this something that was agreed upon, to be implemented for the meantime and then taken back … after few weeks?" said Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II.

Like Cruz, Roxas said the rollback was meant to gain brownie points in the light of the SWS survey.

"If there’s no excessive jacking up of pump prices, this means that oil companies are capable of absorbing the P1.50 increase that they agreed to hold off. I have not known any businessman who would allow a set-up where he will not rake in profits," Roxas said.

FAVORS

Sen. Francis Escudero said the rollback was implemented only because of Arroyo’s request, and not based on any law.

"So why not amend the oil deregulation law so that the government can impose and not simply request on oil companies?" he said.

If the companies can afford a rollback, he also said, "it doesn’t mean that they’re really financially hurting if they will not impose an increase and that they’re merely out to make a windfall out of these increases."

"I could only wonder what they asked in return for this ‘favor’ given to Mrs. Arroyo," he added.

Senate President Pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada said asked why Arroyo did not ask for a full P3 rollback.

Administration Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri defended Arroyo, vouching for her sincerity in trying to bring down oil prices. Instead he chastised blamed Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes who he said is not doing his job.

PUBLICITY STUNT

Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay said the rollback was a "publicity stunt" taken by the oil firms to calm the public.

He said the public can expect diesel prices to go up again after the SONA.

"The administration is desperate since its other PR gimmicks like the cash hand-outs and subsidy did not go well as planned. I am sure that this oil price rollback will also go down as another failed stunt," he said.

"If Mrs. Arroyo can meddle in the way oil companies conduct their business, then why isn’t she doing anything to suspend the EVAT, which she can easily do? What they are doing is painting the oil companies as the culprits for the oil price increases, when her government rakes in millions from the EVAT," he added.

SIGNATURE DRIVE

Binay also called for the holding of a signature drive urging Arroyo to suspend the collection of the 12 percent value-added tax on oil and energy products.

"I cannot understand why Malacañang is insisting on retaining the 12 percent EVAT on oil when it has already met its collection target, and even has a surplus," he said.

Binay said Makati will be the first local government to establish signature centers for the "Suspend EVAT" campaign.

He appealed to all local government officials, schools and the Church to set up signature booths.

"If we gather enough signatures and Malacañang ignores it, then they do so at their own risk," he said.

At least 50 members of the women’s party-list group Gabriela picketed the Pilipinas Shell office in Legaspi village, Makati City noon yesterday noon.

They said the rollback was insignificant to the total increases of P24 since the start of the year.

They also said Arroyo’s move was "another trickery" to make up for plunging ratings.

PETTY POLITICS

Malacañang said the rollback should be welcomed instead of criticized.

"We appeal to all administration critics to rise above petty partisan politics in these times of crisis. It is statesmanship to rally behind the President in the face of global problems," said Cerge Remonde, chief of the Presidential Management Staff.

He said the opposition should put an end to its petty partisan practices and instead sow seeds of political civility.

Remonde said there were no favors to the oil firms in exchange for the rollback, saying it is part of the corporate social responsibility of the companies.

Asked if the President will make a similar appeal to the Manila Electric Company and the National Power Corporation, he said: "The President will employ everything in her command, both compulsive and persuasive, to put a lid on the process of commodities."