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[av_heading heading=’Ilonggo PUJ drivers call for fare hike amid TRAIN rollout’ 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 and Abeguen Gelito
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January 22, 2018
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ILOILO City – Ilonggo drivers are starting to feel the full impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and are unhappy with the added excise tax on petroleum products.
Duodito Pauner, 55, who has been a jeepney driver for 12 years now, admits to not being fully aware of how the TRAIN Law may cripple his livelihood. However, making approximately P500 a day, he expects the rising prices of diesel to significantly slash his daily earnings.
“Amu na ang budlay kay gataas nga gataas ang presyo sing gasolina, pero ang pamasahe waay pa gasaka,” Pauner relates.
Forty-three-year-old tricycle driver Juliaga Virgilio Basanes agrees with Pauner’s sentiment, saying that the significantly higher gasoline prices should be coupled with a fare hike so that drivers don’t lose out on their daily earnings.
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.
“Isa ini ka makabig namun nga masubo nga tuig,” Piston Panay president Edgar Salarda told Panay News in an interview.
“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.
“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.
Salarda adds that the higher gas prices will likely lead to higher prices for prime commodities and even increased jeepney fares in the near future.
“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./PN
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