P5k subsidy to jeepney operators won’t help – Autopro
JEEPNEY drivers and operators in Pangasinan would rather have the fuel excise tax removed instead of the subsidies offered by the Department of Transportation.
Bernard Tuliao, president of the Alliance of United Transport Organization Provincewide (AUTOPRO) – Pangasinan, said the subsidy grant is not enough to cover their expenses, as it would only definitely last for a week or less.
“Yung P5,000 na sinasabi? Kulang na kulang yon. Isang linggo o less, ubos na yon”, said Tuliao in an interview Friday.
He said that removing the excise tax on fuel would be better, because that would cut P6 to P10 per liter from the current cost of fuel.
Republic Act 10963, commonly known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law raised the excise tax on petroleum products in three tranches from 2018 to 2020, increasing duties to P10 per liter of gasoline, P6 per liter for diesel, and P5 per liter of kerosene.
The Department of Finance, however, said that the suspension of the excise tax would not bode well for the government, as it would lose P131 billion in revenues.
Tuliao’s group sent a petition for an increase in their fares to the regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) last month. It was denied.
Tuliao urged all local transportation groups to press and file similar petition with the LTFRB. “Hindi kami papansinin kapag isang grupo lang ang nag-file ng petisyon,” he said.
He said they will withdraw their petition for fare increase if imposition of the excise tax will be be suspended.
Meanwhile, Tuliao is urging fellow drivers not to overcharge their passengers.
To date, the LTFRB has not approved any fare hike increase since the pandemic.
“Yung minimum na pamasahe for the first four kilometers dati pa rin. P9 pa rin”, said Tuliao.
He said there have been reports of some drivers charging double the pre-pandemic rate and urged the public to help them identify daylight ‘robbers’.
“Iilan lang kami na nagmo-monitor, hindi naming kaya i-monitor lahat, lalo kapag nasa kalsada na yung mga drivers”, he added.
Photos of plate number should be sent along with the complaint. Complainants may send it to AUTOPRO or to the LTFRB Facebook page. (Ahikam Pasion)
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