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MMDA: Fuel price increases cause cars on EDSA to dwindle


Fewer motor vehicles are plying the roads of Metro Manila amid the continued increases in the prices of fuel, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday.

According to Bernadette Reyes’ report on “24 Oras”, the MMDA said it monitored 417,000 vehicles on EDSA on May 5, 2022, more than the 405,000 observed before the pandemic.

On June 9 after weeks of fuel price increases, there were only 392,000.

CCTV footage from the MMDA Metrobase showed that there were fewer cars on EDSA at 8 a.m. on Monday compared to those on the main artery at the same time on May 5.

“Nabawasan and I think may epekto po yung pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina at krudo. ‘Yung mga may sasakyan instead na magdala pa ng mga vehicles na sarili at pribado ay sumasakay na lamang sa pampublikong transportasyon,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said.

(It went down and I think this is an effect of the increase in the prices of gasoline and diesel. Those who have cars are now choosing to ride public transportation.)

Oil companies are again expected to increase the prices of fuel on Tuesday, June 14.

Diesel prices will spike by P4.38 per liter while an additional P2.15 per liter will be imposed on gasoline. Kerosene products will increase by P4.85 per liter.

Meanwhile, the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) called on the government to implement policies to lower the prices of petroleum products.

“‘Yung value-added tax na 12 percent immediately pwede niyang i-suspend 'yan," RJ Javellana, UFCC President, said.

"May mga other taxes pa ang petroleum products, import tax, local tax. Napakaraming tax pero ang lahat nang yan sino ba ang pumapasan? Tayo po,” 

(They can immediately suspend that 12% VAT. There are other taxes imposed on petroleum products. There’s the import tax and the local tax. A lot of taxes. And who bears the brunt? Us.)

GMA News has sought the statement of the economic team of president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. but they have yet to respond.

Earlier, Marcos raised the possibility of temporarily suspending the excise tax should studies show it would help curb the rising fuel prices.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), however, said the proposal would only benefit the rich.

“The top 10 percent of Filipino families consume half of the fuel products because they have their own cars," NEDA Director General Karl Chua said.

"We’re helping the public commuters by subsidizing the PUV operators so they do not increase commuter fares,” he added. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA News

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