Piston poises new strike over motor vehicle tax

Various groups threatened to stage protest actions to dramatize their opposition to the road user's tax, also known as the motor vehicle user's charge, after the Senate approved the bicameral report on its imposition.

Medardo Roda, president of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), said their group cannot allow the tax to be imposed because it would only be an additional burden on public transport operators and drivers.

"PISTON members will meet about this. We are considering holding another strike. We'll do our best to block this tax scheme," Roda said.

The tax scheme has drawn flak from various sectors, prompting Malacanañg to formulate its gradual implementation to cushion its impact to the public. Initially, the plan aimed to increase by at least 500 percent registration fees for vehicles.

But Malacanañg later assured transport leaders that the increase would only be 100 percent and that the tax scheme would be implemented over a four-year period.

Roda said the government should not turn to the transport sector to raise much-needed revenues to sustain its operation.

PISTON led a nationwide transport strike last March 30 to protest increases in the prices of petroleum products and the 50 percent increase of service fees of government offices. -