Transport group appeals for Duterte to pass EO suspending fuel excise tax

The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) on Sunday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to pass an executive order to suspend the excise tax on fuel to help alleviate the plight of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers after the successive major price hikes.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, PISTON national president Mody Floranda said the transport sector has not yet recovered from the changes in fuel prices which was initially brought about by the Ukraine-Russia conflict, thus they are determined to ask Duterte to address their demands before he steps down from office on June 30.

“Talagang tayo ay naninindigan na ipanawagan sa administrasyong Duterte na mahigit isang buwan na lang ang kanyang panunungkulan, baka pwedeng gumawa siya ng executive order na suspendihin muna itong implementasyon sa usapin sa matataas na buwis sa usapin ng petrolyo dahil talagang nagsu-suffer ‘yung kabuhayan,” he said.

(We are really determined to call on the Duterte administration that maybe he can make an executive order to suspend the implementation of high taxes on petroleum because our livelihood is really suffering.)

In its fuel price forecast for the May 17 to 23, 2022 trading week, Unioil said the price per liter of diesel may go down by P2.90 to P3.00. Gasoline prices may roll back between P0.40 to P0.60 per liter.

Further, Floranda said PISTON will work on a transport agenda that they will propose to the next administration.

“‘Yung uupong pangulo ng ating bansa, ilalatag din natin na kailangan amyendahan na o ibasura ang usapin ng Oil Deregulation Law, TRAIN Law, e-VAT at excise [tax] sa produktong petrolyo para at least kahit papaano ay makasabay ‘yung kabuhayan ng mamamayan,” he added.

(We will ask the next president of our country to amend or abolish the Oil Deregulation Law, TRAIN Law, e-VAT and excise [tax] on petroleum products so that at least the people's livelihood can be kept up.)

Presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier said he preferred instead to push for oil subsidies and the reactivation of the Oil Price Stabilization Fund.

This statement deviated from the stand taken by him and his running mate, presumptive vice president Sara Duterte, that the government should "suspend excise tax on fuel imports as a form of subsidy for oil companies." —KG, GMA News