DOE, militants discuss scrapping of tax on oil

The Department of Energy-7 yesterday reiterated that it could not do something on the demand of the Coalition Against Oil Price Increase’s to scrap the value added tax on oil, but it promised the group that it would forward the appeal to the DOE national office.

In a dialogue, DOE regional director Antonio Labios however explained that their office cannot do something to stop the increase of oil prices because the country largely depends on imported oil products whose prices are being dictated by the world market.

CAOPI members held a march-rally going to the DOE-7 office to condemn the recent spate of increases in prices of fuel and demand for the scrapping of the VAT to bring down the oil prices.

“Diri sa Pilipinas, dili ta maka-diktar sa presyo sa lana kay ang demand nato sa world market is less than one percent. Dunay makapasaka, ingnon ninyo nga speculation kay ang oil man gud, ang kabasehan ni siya, ang presyo sa world market. Almost 100 percent sa atong requirement is gikan man sa gawas. This is a simple explanation of supply and demand.” Labios told the militants.

Labios said he could not answer the group on its demand to scrap the VAT on oil because it is a financial issue. “Kining sa VAT, dili ko makatubag kay sa financial aspect man ni. Dili ko makatubag kay mao ni ang atong policy, executive policy man ni siya. Sa Department of Finance na ni.”

In addition, Labios said that despite the increasing costs of oil, the national government is developing the energy independence program as one of the solutions to the problem.  However, he said the program takes quite a time to be implemented because the country mostly relies on foreign investments, which will need around $50 to 60 million.

He also cited different energy sources such as power regeneration, biogas, methane and solar power systems that may be able to help the country with the problem on energy and oil price increase.

CAOPI submitted to DOE yesterday its signature campaign demanding for the scrapping of the 12 percent VAT on oil and the oil deregulation law.

CAOPI supports the House Bill 1724, or an Act Scrapping the Oil Deregulation Law; House Bill 3031, an Act Re-nationalizing Petron; and House Bill 3443, an act to remove VAT on Petroleum Products. —  Cressida Paula G. Delmo/WAB