Published
By Fred M. Lobo
Malacañang has hit the
unreasonable price increases slapped by traders on basic commodities, using the
tax reform law as vehicle or cover.
Don’t jack up prices!
the Palace said.
***
Concerned lawmakers
have, likewise, opposed the proposed increase in power rates at a time when
people are reeling under the pressure of price hikes.
“Double combination” is
bad for the people’s health, they protested.
***
Presidential spokesman
Harry Roque said some traders take advantage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration
and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, especially following the increase in the price of
oil in the world market.
They raise prices of
some good excessively or unnecessarily, he lamented.
***
Roque had pointed out
that although many people benefited from the TRAIN law through lower income
tax, “unfortunately, there are a lot of our people who take advantage of the
TRAIN, and the oil price hike, to increase the price of the different
commodities.”
Translation: SNB:
“Style niyo bulok!”
***
He added that the
government may opt to buy cheaper oil from countries like the United States and
Russia, to help check the skyrocketing of prices for basic commodities.
Enough with inflation!
The search for cheaper oil is on.
***
“When it comes to
petroleum, the government is taking steps to address the issue. We are
exploring all options but we must understand that the price of oil is out of
our hands,” Roque said in a press briefing.
“There’s a possibility
of exploring the option of getting oil from non-OPEC members like Russia and
the United States. China right now is getting their oil from America’s
stockpile. So we will see if we can do the same steps,” he said.
***
Roque had earlier said
that the government is ready to suspend the collection of the new excise tax on
fuel if the global price of oil reaches $80 per barrel, as provided in the
TRAIN law itself.
Option open. Let’s keep
hoping.
***
Newly elected Senate
President Tito Sotto also expressed concern on price hikes at the Kapihan sa
Senado but said that the matter is better left to the wisdom of economists.
So hurry, economists!
Suspend TRAIN, impose price control, use suggested retail price (SRP) or just
say “Coffee Cheers!”?
***
But Sen. Paolo “Bam”
Aquino IV said the government should expedite looking for ways to lower the
prices of goods and services as more Filipinos are now heavily burdened by high
prices.
Bam explodes a yellow
bomb: “Maraming nasagasaan ng TRAIN! Supend the TRAIN law!”
***
“Filipinos demand
solutions, not excuses for high prices. Our poor countrymen are drowning …”
Aquino said.
A distress call for
help that is better addressed to both DU30’s New Battalion and the Yellow Army.
***
Aquino added he cannot
accept Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia’s recent pronouncement
that Filipinos should just tighten their belts.
Because belts have
become expensive, too?
***
Senate President Pro
Tempore Ralph G. Recto assured that the TRAIN law has a tax-freeze provision
which shall kick in, adding “the tripwire is $80 per barrel, based on Dubai
crude.”
Okay, do it when it
kicks in so it does not kick us any further, say consumers.
***
In the Lower House,
Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate also bewailed that aside from rising
prices, an additional R1.55 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate hike is being sought
by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) from consumers and power users, citing
rising coal prices.
“Definitely, it’s a
deadly combination to common Filipinos if approved by the Energy Regulatory
Commission (ERC),” Zarate warned.
***
Calling the new power
rate “onerous and unconscionable,” Zarate said the R1.55 per kwh additional
hike will cost millions of Meralco customers R54.54 billion in additional
charges annually.
Aside from inflation,
here comes electrocution! Help!!!
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