Women’s group GABRIELA staged a protest in front of the Department of Finance (DOF) office along Roxas Boulevard on Wednesday to demand the immediate removal of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) added to the cost of basic commodities and of excise tax for petroleum products.

This comes amid the persistent climb in oil prices in the global market. Should the current trend continue this week, the added cost of diesel may reach ₱9.52 per liter, and for gasoline, almost ₱4.92, the group said, as reported by RH 29 Boy Gonzales.

Another price increase this week would mark the tenth time in a row for the country.

The group criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and, as part of their demonstration, threw rotten goods at the DOF’s logo to protest the agency’s “rotten” economic priorities.

GABRIELA said they would continue to make the same demands as they commemorate the International Working Women’s Day on March 8.