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Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Wenceslao: Fare rates hike and the social volcano
By Bong O. Wenceslao
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced a new round of fare hikes in the country (Cebu is included, but its implementation is still on hold). A P2 fare hike or even a P1 already eats up a chunk of one’s daily wage. It will also trigger hikes in prices of commodities in the long haul.
In Congress, the bicameral conference committee has reportedly reached a compromise on the bill mandating an increase of 2 percent in the present 10 percent value-added tax. No, compromise is euphemism. Because after the verbal exchange between administration and opposition lawmakers, the original tax scheme will still end up being imposed.
Meanwhile, we may not have seen the last of the oil price increases that have bedeviled us for the past several weeks. While the main reason used has been the high prices of crude in the world market, something should be said also of the failure of the law deregulating the oil industry in stopping the cartelization of the country’s oil pricing.
Amid the continuing economic crunch, President Arroyo ordered the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards nationwide to find ways to raise the minimum daily wage. As expected, employers, especially in Cebu, are already making noises about retrenchments if wages are spiked upwards—meaning, no crumbs for the workers.
When I was younger, I bumped into Marxist writings and found some sense in the philosophy. There’s the theory, for example, about economics being the foundation of the superstructure—politics, culture, etc. Politicians and employers may be confident in their control of our politics, enough for them to swagger while they squeeze the people dry.
But the strength of the country’s politics is highly dependent on the viability of its economics. There is a limit to the oppression and exploitation that the masses can endure. As it is, frustrations are building up as more and more burdens are placed on the shoulder of the people. If politicians and employers will not watch out, political unrest will soon explode on their very faces.
TEXTREAX. Talk about frustrations, here’s Souie Mercado of the Association of Commuters and Consumers in Cebu (AC3): “We must learn to fight for our rights. We must not continue to suffer in pain and grit our teeth in silence. Think of our children’s future.”
Meanwhile, Max Gabucan of P. del Rosario St. thinks the main reason why no witnesses have come out against vigilante-style killings is that most Cebu City residents agree with it. But I say it does not follow. I think witnesses are not coming out because of fear and because of City Hall’s support for the vigilantes.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ 0927-2055064)
(May 11, 2005 issue)
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