THE biggest challenge to the national government right now is how to mitigate the impact of the recent oil price hikes. For five straight weeks, the oil price increases directly affected petroleum products and prices of goods.
Yesterday, major gasoline companies including Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, Petron, Phoenix, Flying V, Petro Gazz and Eastern Petroleum implemented an increase of P1.05 per liter for gasoline and P0.70 per liter for diesel and kerosene.
It was said that the oil price increase is of course a result of what’s happening in the global market.
But the more critical concern is the result of these increases. It generally affects the whole economy, the transportation sector, farming, fishing, and manufacturing. Name it. We are all affected.
If the input cost increases, then it only follows that the cost of end products increases as well.
And worse, the new taxes on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law have persistently burdened Filipinos since it took effect.
Mitigating the impact of oil price hikes is not an easy task for the Department of Energy.
Intelligent and conscientious solutions are needed to cover all threats and concerns.
The Train law also needs revisiting if only to ensure that it is truly helping the nation.
--oo0oo--
On a different note, the Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order Council in Central Luzon declared the members of the CPP-NPA as “persona non grata.”
Signed in resolutions, they condemned the CPP-NPA’s “unlawful and illegal activities.”
But I am confused. Were they supposed to be “desirable and welcome” in our communities prior to the declaration?
And is it not a general policy of the national government under the Philippine Constitution that the people inciting sedition and rebellion are enemies of the state? So, do we really need more resolutions?
Just asking.
By the way, Carlito G. Galvez Jr. is the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security or CORDS. Again, what?
Galvez said CORDS is a mechanism to integrate the peace and order and development efforts from the national level to the regional levels.
So, again I am confused. Is it not a redundancy of the functions or responsibilities of the National Development Council, National Defense, National Security Council and all other national law enforcement agencies that are by the way, all members of the regional councils?
Just thinking out loud.