Citing the mounting burden on small farmers, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Tuesday, March 3, denounced the latest oil price hike and urged the government to provide urgent subsidies as Middle East tensions threaten to push global crude prices even higher.

KMP said oil firms recently implemented increases of P1.90 per liter for gasoline, P1.50 per liter for diesel, and P1.20 per liter for kerosene. 

The latest adjustment marked the 10th hike for diesel and kerosene and the eighth for gasoline this year, it added.

Reports said global crude prices surged past $80 per barrel following intensifying tensions in the Middle East due to the attacks of the United States and Israel on Iran. 

Prices, according to KMP, could reach $100 per barrel if the conflict worsens and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz - - - where nearly 20 percent of the global crude supply passes - - - are disrupted.

The farmers’ group said that the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran have a direct impact on the masses.

Cumulative adjustments since January have reached P6.70 per liter for gasoline, P9.40 for diesel, and P7.70 for kerosene, and more hikes are anticipated next week, per KMP.

“Sa bawat piso na idinadagdag sa presyo ng diesel, binabawasan ang kakarampot na kita ng maliliit na magsasaka (For every peso added to the price of diesel, the already meager income of small farmers is reduced),” Danilo Ramos, the chairperson of KMP, said in a statement.

“Kung aabot sa $100 kada bariles ang langis sa pandaigdigang merkado, tiyak na susunod ang mas mabibigat na dagdag-presyo sa Pilipinas at mas lalong lulubog sa utang ang mga magsasaka. Direktang apektado rin ang mga manggagawa, mga mangingisda, mga nasa transport at mga konsyumer. Dagdag pagdurusa at kahirapan sa masa (If oil reaches $100 per barrel in the global market, heavier price increases will surely follow in the Philippines and farmers will sink deeper into debt. Workers, fishers, those in the transport sector, and consumers are also directly affected. Additional suffering and hardship for the masses),”he added.

With this, the KMP urged the government to immediately implement fuel subsidies and provide support for farm inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides to ease rising production costs.

“Panahon na upang unahin ang mga nagbubungkal ng lupa at hindi ang interes ng malalaking kumpanya ng langis. Ibigay ang nararapat na subsidyo at ayuda sa sektor ng agrikultura ngayon na (It is time to prioritize those who till the land instead of the interests of big oil companies. Provide the rightful subsidies and assistance to the agriculture sector now),” said Ramos.