[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Bacolod councilors oppose higher fuel tax’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Tuesday, january 10, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
BACOLOD City – City councilors joined calls against the proposed additional taxes on fuel, especially diesel.
They believe the “anti-poor” plan is contrary to the socioeconomic thrusts of the Duterte administration.
The Department of Finance pitched to the House of Representatives additional taxes on fuel products like diesel fuel.
The department sought P6 per liter on diesel fuel, cooking gas and bunker fuel used in generating electricity, and P4.35 to P10 per liter on gasoline.
“At this point, the administration should not impose taxes that will significantly affect the living conditions of poor Filipinos,” read part of a Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution.
Instead, it should “initiate policies that will increase their income, [help them] have their own shelter and ease their daily burdens,” the councilors said.
Charging a P6 tax per liter of diesel fuel — commonly used by public utility vehicles (PUV) like jeepneys and buses — will greatly affect Bacolodnons, according to Councilor Caesar Distrito, author of the resolution.
He said the “seemingly anti-poor” proposal “is not in accordance with the policy direction of the Duterte administration in pursuing a human approach for development and uplifting the social and economic conditions of the masses.”
The councilors said they are against the plan “since this will affect most of our constituents, particularly those who depend so much on public transportation, the PUV drivers and those living below the poverty line.”
Prices of commodities increase once fuel prices increase since transportation and production costs are added to existing prices, they said.
Several senators have also expressed opposition to the Finance department’s proposal.
It is unacceptable, especially since it will mostly affect poor and low-income Filipinos, according to Sen. Leila de Lima.
“Are they just angry at the poor? Because it is the poor who are always the victims here,” a national newspaper quoted the Duterte administration critic as saying.
“In the war on drugs, it is the poor who are the victims,” she said. “Now even with the collection of taxes, the poor would still have to feel the pain.”
Sen. Francis Escudero, on the other hand, said Malacañang and its finance managers must prove that they have exhausted all means to collect existing taxes to justify the proposed tax package.
While he would like to look into the plan, Escudero believes the amount of additional taxes sought is too much.
For Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the planned additional taxes are fine “as long as there is a mechanism to cushion the impact on public transport and other freight-related industries.” (With a report from Philstar.com)/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
