Anakpawis calls for VAT, excise tax suspension amid fuel price hike
(Photo courtesy of Anakpawis Partylist facebook page)
Progressive groups held a protest rally in front of a gasoline station in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday, March 10 urging the government to suspend the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise tax in petroleum products to mitigate the surge of fuel price.
“Sa bawat araw na hindi ito tinutugunan ng administrasyong Marcos ay mas napapahaba ang pagdurusa ng ordinaryong mamamayan (Every day that the Marcos administration does not address this, the suffering of ordinary citizens is prolonged),” Anakpawis National President Ariel Casilao said.
The group also criticized the “drastic increase” in agri-fisheries production brought by the oil price hike.
"Kaakibat ng taas-presyo ng langis ang pagtaas din ng gastos sa produksyon ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Nangangahulugan ito ng higit pang pagdausdos ng kanilang kita (The increase in oil prices is also lead to the increase in the production costs of farmers and fishermen. This means a further decline in their income),”
He added that prices of gricultural products in the market such as rice, vegetables, and fish will also be affected with the oil price increase.
On Tuesday morning, prices of gasoline and diesel started to go up, increasing the priced by up to P20 and P10 per liter, respectively.
This week, the Department of Energy advised oil companies to implement a staggered price increase for three days to cushion the impact of a big-time fuel price increase.