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[av_heading heading=’Ilonggos begin to feel impact of TRAIN on soft drink prices’ 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 Gelito and Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
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January 30, 2018
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ILOILO City – Ilonggo vendors and consumers alike are starting to feel the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law as the prices of soft drinks have begun increasing this last two weeks of January.
Fifty-five-year-old sari-sari store owner Nenete Tarosa told Panay News that at her store, a 12-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola has hiked its price from P13 to P15 now.
“Wala man ta choice”, Tarosa shared on her sentiments on the TRAIN Law, noting that she’s noticed a decrease in the number of soft drink buyers in the past few days.
At a certain popular grocery store in Iloilo City, a 1.5-liter bottle of Coca-Cola is now at P58 from P43 last year – an increment of P15. Meanwhile, a 500-ml bottle of Coke has seen a hike of P3.50, from P22.50 in 2017 to P26 now. A 330-ml Coke in can is now at P24 from P20 before the TRAIN Law.
Grade 12 student Rainee Shane Gabayeron, who shares she buys soft drinks to enjoy during lunch or merienda, relates that she feels “the hike tax was not made for the citizen of the country. It’s not ‘pangmasa’ because it will only cause an increase of the expenses of people.”
Joenna Caston, 28, a sales lady, shared the same sentiment, saying that TRAIN is inconsiderate to Filipinos, as a majority of the population in the country is poor.
“Tani maluoy man sila sa mga tawo nga hindi gid kaya makakita sang dako nga kwarta,” expressed Caston.
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.
Sweetened beverages such as juice drinks, sweetened tea, all-carbonated beverages, flavored water, energy and sports drinks, cereal and grain beverages, and other nonalcoholic drinks that use caloric or non-caloric sweeteners will be taxed P6 per liter. Meanwhile, P12 per liter will be taxed for those that contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
For diesel, a P2.50 tax per liter will be imposed this year, while there will be increases of P1.00 for LPG and P7 for LPG.
“The price increases in oil and petroleum products will have a domino effect to basic commodities’ prices. It is being felt right now by ordinary Filipinos especially the poor whose wages remain low and meager. That makes Duterte’s TRAIN anti-poor,” said Bayan Panay secretary general Elmer Forro.
Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 6 OIC-regional director Rebecca Rascon is assuring the public that their agency is closely monitoring the prices of prime commodities in outlets and markets all over the region,
To report cases of suspected irregularity of prices and incidents of profiteering, Rascon is urging consumers to report to the DTI-6 regional director office by calling 335-0548, or contacting the national DTI Direct hotline 751-3330 or sending a text message through 0917-8343330.
Business establishments that will commit illegal acts of price manipulation, specifically profiteering, shall be imposed a fine of not less than P5,000.00 nor more than P2 million, and imprisonment for 5 to 15 years./PN
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