DIEGO Malacad, secretary-general of United Negros Drivers and Operators Center, lamented on Tuesday, January 15, that the implementation of additional excise tax and increase in the price of fuels are a form of harassment to the transport sector.
“This is a miserable day for the transport sector,” Malacad said.
He said that in the price of diesel fuel, a total of P4.80 per liter hike was implemented -- P2.50 per liter is for the excise tax while P2.30 per liter was the price increase implemented by the oil companies.
He lamented that the increase was the second to be implemented this year which is already a big blow to the drivers.
“The government and oil companies are only fooling us,” Malacad said.
He cited that from September 30 to December 2, 2018, oil companies have implemented a decrease in the price of fuel products.
“It was actually not a rollback but rather, the oil companies only gave back for the increases they have implemented in February to September 2018,” he said.
“It's very miserable and our congressmen, senators, and even the President did nothing to stop the implementation of the second tranche of the excise tax on fuels under the Tax Reform for Inclusion and Acceleration (Train) Law,” he added.
Malacad also explained that the gasoline stations that will implement the additional excise tax should put a notice within the vicinity of their station that they are imposing the additional excise tax.
“Without having the notice, some gasoline stations have already implemented the increase,” Malacad said.
He said that to make their opposition and protest to the fuel price increases, together with their mother organization, human rights groups and some media organizations, they are planning to file a case against President Rodrigo Duterte at the International Court so that it would be properly addressed to and to avoid some fears of being harassed in the country.
He said he is going to Manila Wednesday, January 16, to represent their group on the filing of the case.