- MITCH M. LIPA
The United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) has denounced the series of oil price increases, adding it is an anti-poor effect of the implementation of the Oil Deregulation Law, or Republic Act 8479.
In a press statement, UNDOC secretary-general Diego Malacad, said the Filipinos are already suffering from the bad effect of the collaboration of the Department of Energy, big oil companies, and other players in the market.
UNDOC data show that from January to October this year, the increase in the prices of gasoline already reached P17.95; P16.50 for diesel, and P20.50 for kerosene.
This means that a driver of a public utility vehicle consuming about 20 liters per day lost almost P330 from his daily income.
The latest round of oil price increases was implemented Tuesday at P1.50 per liter for gasoline and diesel. The previous week, the increase was also more than one peso per liter for both types of fuel.
The transport sector is reminding the Duterte administration of its sincerity and promise to help the oppressed drivers and operators from the ill-effects of the Oil Deregulation Law.
The group continues to demand the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law and the TRAIN, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, and to remove the value-added tax imposed on petroleum products.
They are also condemning the alleged money-making scheme of the Land Transportation Office in arresting drivers even for minor traffic violations and charging them with high penalties.
The group also seeks the review of a memorandum circular by LTO and the Department of Transportation that, it claimed, is hurting the transport sector. — MML
