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[av_heading heading=’Ilonggo vegetable, fish vendors hike up prices due to TRAIN impact’ 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 Abeguen B. Gelito, Intern
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February 8, 2018
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ILOILO City – Ilonggo vendors in the city have begun increasingthe prices of their products as they seek to offset the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law on their daily earnings.
Due to the added excise tax onpetroleum products, 43-year-old fish vendor Winston Lucero has begun rethinking the use of his own private vehicle when purchasing fish in bulk at the Iloilo Fish Port Complex in Barangay Tanza Baybay.
“Kung mag arkila ko tricycle, P150 lang bayran ko. Kung gamiton ko akon salakyan, ang P100 gasolina namun hindi pa na mag igo,” explained Lucero who now sees taking advantage of public transport as a more financially viable option.
Lucero also mentioned that he’s seen an increase in prices of fish these past few weeks after the rollout of TRAIN. Tuloy fish – a popular type of saltwater sardine – went up from P80 to P120 per kilo. Meanwhile, milkfish or bangus has seen a P20 hike – from P160 to P180 per kilo. He’s also noted slower business as fewer customers approach him to buy large quantities of fish.
The 59-year-old vegetable vendor Neneng Inecito has seen a similar trend in vegetables and other produce. The mother supporting a family of ten says they’ve had to increase their vegetable prices as TRAIN means higher diesel costs when it comes to transporting their goods from the farm to the market.
Inecito shares that eggplants have surged from P80 to P120 per kilo. She adds thatshe now has to shell out around P100 to P150 daily to renta vehicle to transport her produce.
“Bisan hindi ta gusto magsaka ang mga balaklon, wala man ta mahimo. Pero tani hindi langgid magsaka ang pamasahe sa jeep,” Inecito added.
Under the 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.
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.
Another vegetable vendor Bebelyn Beros, 29, has added P20 to the price of the okra she’s selling hiking the cost between P60 to P80 per kilo.
When asked about if the TRAIN Law has affected her, Beros answered:“Apektado gid eh. Pigado nga daan subong tapos taas pa mga balaklon, apektado gid ta tanan.”
The newly approved TRAIN law seeks to lower personal income taxes, increase excise tax on fuel products, and impose tax on sweetened beverages, among others./PN
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