Transport groups: remove fuel excise tax

No fare hike petition yet

CEBU, Philippines —   Despite the series of increase in the prices of fuel, not a single transport group in Cebu has filed any petition for a fare hike.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, General Manager of the Cebu Integrated Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CITRASCO MPC), told The FREEMAN yesterday that asking for a fare increase would only add more burden to the riding public.

Alternatively, he is now initiating moves for other local and national transport groups to ask President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. for the removal of excise tax on fuel for Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) only.

“Maghimo ko og petition unya papirmahan unya ni nako sa other local transport groups in Cebu as well as in Manila nga tangtangon ang excise tax pero para lang sa mga PUVs,” said Yu.

He added they will submit the petition directly to the Office of the President and would furnish other government agencies such as the House of Representatives, Senate, Department of Energy, Department of Budget and Management, among others, copies of their plea.

Yu said increasing PUV fare is not the solution to their predicament. Removing the excise tax for the PUVs only, however, would really be a big help for them.

“Dili lang mi mopasaka sa og petition aron pag increase sa pletehan kay ang katawhan wala pa man gani ni-umento ang ilang sweldo,” Yu added.

Last Tuesday, oil companies have increased its prices by P1.90 per liter for gasoline, P1.50 per liter for diesel and P2.50 per liter for kerosene.

The week prior, oil companies have also raised the prices of diesel by P4 per liter, P2.75 per liter for kerosene and P0.50 per liter for gasoline.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Regional Director Eduardo Montealto Jr., for his part, said the government is currently working on in providing fuel subsidy for PUV operators, a reason why the P1 rush hour fare hike petition by transport groups in Manila was recently junked by the LTFRB.

“So far, wala pa mi guidelines as to unsaon ang pamaagi pag-release ug pila ang amount nga ihatag sa mga operators,” said Montealto.

He, however, said there is already a P2.9 billion budget for fuel subsidy to be distributed nationwide.

“Ang akong nahibaw-an nga ang priority nga hatagan ani mga drivers sa modernized jeepneys but wala pud na nagpasabot nga sila ra. We will just wait for the guidelines,” Montealto added. (CEBU NEWS)