"Give a little?"

Those were powerful words mentioned by Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera. "You have to respond to the devastation … You don't have to be an oil company to realize [that] you have to give a little."

From within the country and from all over the world, those who saw the Filipino people and the communities affected by the typhoons readily responded however they could. They gave what they could. They gave their all. Those who died saving others gave their lives that others may live. They gave their most!

Hence, asking the oil companies to "give a little" is too insensitive, too humiliating for our people. Oil companies, businesses, government, everyone should give their utmost to our people, not only during periods of devastation as well.

With the unregulated price hikes until this month, government has allowed the rich oil companies to reap profits at the expense of our people. Despite the continuing poverty experienced by millions of our people, government has allowed price hikes of oil and other food prices. Government did not even blink when they imposed extra taxes on our people. The poorest, of course, were the most hurt and they continue to be the worst hit by any type of price hike at any time, typhoon or dry season.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the same pampered companies will continue to raise their prices no matter whether our people have gone through worse devastation or not. Even if the sun shines or the typhoons come again and lash their anger, the insensitive oil companies will only have one purpose in mind: to reap profits where they can, when they can, how they can.

That is also the same for the immoral and abusive leaders in government. All they think about is how they can maximize their personal/family profits where they are, no matter whether times are good or bad, whether there are typhoons or none.

Goodness. Our people are not mendicants. They deserve to be treated more fairly both by government and business. Good government should also always insist on fair and just pricing. Excessive, unreasonable price hikes which harm our people should move good governments to immediately regulate abuses through immediate protectionist, pro-people policies that are effectively implemented.

Giving the oil companies the upper hand with the oil deregulation bill, allowing them to decide on their prices until Executive Order No. 839 have made the oil companies very arrogant about their behavior. Some are taking their time to follow the advice of government, others have obeyed but with the warning that doing so may cause more harm to our people when oil supply will be depleted because the companies will lose if they sell at lower prices. Goodness, however can the companies lose now when they have gained so much for so long? When oil companies say they will lose if they sell at cheaper prices, do they mean their profits will decrease or they will not profit at all? Haven't they profited enough through the years?

It is a blessing that government now sees they will lose more if they side with those who insist on price hikes in the midst of so much misery and devastation. Otherwise, without the present devastation, government would have continued to side with those whose interest is merely to profit, never mind what happens to the people, especially the poor.

It is timely to rethink the power and control of oil companies given through the oil deregulation bill. It is also time to rethink the power and control given to other businesses that have profited at the expense of our people, of our country. These are not the businesses that should be allowed in our country. It is time for them to take their heartless, insensitive profit-seeking ventures elsewhere. It is time to welcome only those that can share much, not those who can give only so little, for our people, for our country.

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