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By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent .

 

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FUEL prices have already gone up by as many as 30 times since January, registering a net increase of a little over P14 for gasoline and nearly P15 for diesel.

As consumers start feeling the crunch as the fuel-price increases result in a domino effect on the prices of basic commodities and services, calls for the suspension of the Duterte administration’s tax reform law became more pronounced.

Businessman and gas station owner James Giam said the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (Train) that based on his computations, over P2 were added to the gasoline prices (per liter) before yesterday’s hefty increase as a result of the Train law. This, he said, excludes the value-added tax imposed on oil products which he calculated at some P1.

He said the Duterte administration can opt to suspend the implementation of the Train law on fuel so as to provide cushion for consumers.

Gasoline prices shot up by P1 per liter while diesel prices increased by P1.45 a liter yesterday.

“Kon i-suspend ang Train law ug VAT sa oil products, mokana-og sa kapin P3 ang presyo sa produktong petrolyo,” said Giam.

A lawyer here, James Judith, appealed to the Duterte administration to immediately suspend the Train law implementation as far as fuel and other petroleum products are concerned so as to cushion the impact of inflation.

Judith said it could no longer be denied that the prices of basic commodities were already hurting people’s pockets.

He said it was clear that the government’s tax reform measures were used to give more benefits to law enforcers and soldiers. While the government is expected to take care of its workers, Judith said there has to be a balance and it should not be at the expense of citizens.

“Nalubong sa kalisod ang daghang mga tawo tungod sa Train law nga gipatong sa oil products, apan naka-binipisyo usab ang mga pulis ug sundalo kay na-double man ang increase sa ilang suweldo. Dapat ibalansi  unta kini sa atong gobyerno,” Judith said.

At the city council, Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. expressed dismay over the increasing fuel prices but added that the solution is beyond anyone’s control.

Lao, chairman of the city council’s committee on energy, expressed helplessness. “Wala tay mahimo ana, kay world market man gud ang nagdikar ana. Bisan ang national government wala gani mahimo ana.”

He said the city council’s energy committee could only step in if there are allegations of hoarding or if there are irregularities in the sale of fuel in the city.

“If it is about the high prices of fuel, wala ta ana,” Lao said.

Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Northern Mindanao-Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Starex-Piston) secretary general Ringgo Lago called on the Duterte administration to abolish the Oil Industry Deregulation Law and get rid of excise taxes on petroleum products.

“Kon mabasura kanang Oil Deregulation Law ug excise tax, basin  makaginhawa rata niining taga li-og nga presyo sa produktong petrolyo,” said Lago, adding that public vehicle drivers and their families in the region and elsewhere in the country are already hurting.

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