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[av_heading heading=’‘Unhappy’ New Year for Pinoy PUJ drivers As TRAIN oil excise tax, jeepney phaseout loom ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
By Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
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AP
A public utility jeepney and a motorcycle are seen pulling into a gas station in Metro Manila to have their fuel tanks replenished.
ILOILO City – “Isa ini ka makabig namun nga masubo nga tuig,” Piston Panay president Edgar Salarda told Panay News on New Year’s day Monday, as the country’s public utility vehicle drivers gird for new excise taxes on petroleum products.
Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, the excise tax on oil and fuel products is set to be increased in increments until 2020. For diesel, TRAIN is set to hike prices by P2.50 per liter this 2018, by P4.50 per liter in 2019, and by P6 per liter in 2020 onwards.
“Sa subong nagalab-ot P35 per liter ang diesel kag malapit P50 per liter ang gasoline, kag ang presyo nga ina sigi man taas. Considering nga mapatuman pagid ang gobyerno sing excise tax, madaku gid siya nga pasakit sa mga driver kag motorist,” explained Salarda.
Meanwhile, for regular and unleaded premium gasoline, TRAIN mandates a P7 per liter excise tax this 2018, a by P9 per liter increase in 2019, and by P10 per liter starting 2020.
The new excise tax was originally expected to be implemented on New Year’s day Monday, but an advisory from the Department of Energy on Dec. 31 explained to fuel companies that the oil price hike should only be applied to stock acquired from Jan. 1, 2018 onwards.
In a earlier advisory by a Western Visayas petroleum distributor, gasoline is set to experience a P2.97 per liter hike this January from the TRAIN excise and value added taxes, while a P2.80 per liter increment is seen for diesel.
Based on gas station prices as of Dec. 31, that would bring up gasoline to around P51 per liter and diesel to P38 per liter.
Salarda shares that Piston expects the TRAIN excise tax on petroleum products to take effect by the first week of January – adding that the higher gas prices will likely lead to higher prices for prime commodities and even increased jeepney fares in the near future.
“Imbes mag-expect kita kay [president Rodrigo] Duterte nga buligan makaluwas sa kapigadohan ang mga Filipino, nakita namun nga siya mas naga-pabor sa mga daku nga negosyante kag sa burukata kapitalismo,” said Salarda.
“Ang TRAIN nagahatag tuod sing mas mataas nga tax exemption, pero sa iban sini nga buwis, bawion gyapon sa pagtaas sing mga presyo ka mga balaklon, pagmahal sing gasolina, kag basi pati sing plete sing mga pumuluyo,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the proposed jeepney phaseout and modernization plan worth P417 billion is expected to affect around 70,000 jeepneys in Metro Manila and 270,000 jeepneys nationwide, and around 650,000 drivers
During a public speech in October 2017, Duterte hit hard verbally against those protesting the proposed jeepney phaseout, saying: “Jan. 1. If you can’t modernize that, leave. You’re poor? Son of a bitch, go ahead, suffer in poverty and hunger, I don’t care.”/PN
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