Piston planning protest series to push for oil eVAT suspension

Public transport operators on Wednesday threatened to launch another round of protest action if the government will not consider the proposal to temporarily suspend the12 percent expanded value added tax (eVAT) on oil. Militant transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) issued the warning as it criticized the government for keeping a close mind on proposals to suspend the eVAT on oil and other petroleum products despite rising world oil prices. George San Mateo, Piston Secretary General, also accused the government of trying to fool the drivers and the public with regards to the steps being undertaken by the government to address the crisis of high petroleum prices. “President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo is inviting everyone to attend the so-called Energy Summit to supposedly find ways to cushion the impact of high oil prices, but as early as now she has already made up her mind that suspending the 12 percent oil VAT will not be considered by the government," San Mateo said. “We will definitely mount a series of protest actions if oil prices continues to increase and if the government continues to ignore our call to suspend or repeal the 12% Oil VAT and the Oil Deregulation Law," he added. Finance Sec. Margarito Teves said the government will not consider suspending the eVAT on oil and other petroleum products. He noted that instead the government will only reduce more the oil tariff to cushion the impact of soaring oil prices. Piston said that reducing the oil tariff will only enlarge more the profits of the big oil companies in the country while drivers, consumers, ordinary motorists and the people in general will continue to suffer the brunt of high oil prices. If the 12% Oil VAT will be suspended, it will result in an oil price rollback of P4.62 per liter of diesel and P5.59 per liter of gasoline and at least a P62 to P72 reduction in the price of an LPG tank, the group said. San Mateo said that Piston’s National Council will meet early next month to discuss the crisis of high oil prices and to firm up the organization’s plan of actions to mount a series of protests if oil prices continues to shoot up. - GMANews.TV