Fund to subsidize fuel costs of transport operators sought
1-UNITED Transport Alliance Koalisyon (1-UTAK) Chrairman Atty. Vigor “Mr. Transportasyon” Mendoza II, called for the immediate creation of a fund to be taken from the windfall tax collection of the government as a result of higher than expected fuel prices equal to 50% of the excess collection.
Mendoza said this fund can be used to subsidize fuel costs of public transport operators and drivers in an interview.
“Kung hindi puwedeng suspindihin ang excise tax sa diesel at gasolina, sa pag-aaral namin sa ground bilang fleet at single operator this suggestion would be the best alternative answer para sa mataas na presyo ng diesel at gasolina,” said Mendoza.
“Ito po ay purely transport sector ang concentration unlike kung excise tax sa fuel ang suspindihin lahat apektado dahil tatamaan lahat,” Mendoza explained.
Mendoza also recommended the suspension of implementing the 3% common carriers tax.
Mendoza explained that this tax is imposed on the “Gross Income” of the operator regardless of whether they earned a profit or not.
“Kawawa naman yung mga operators lalo ngayong mga panahon sobrang taas ng diesel at gasolina, nasa pandemic pa rin tayo, hindi fair na ang gobyerno kokolekta ng taxes kahit lugi ang negosyo tapos ayaw pa magtaas ng pamasahe,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza also proposed suspending administrative penalties for late registration and other administrative compliances, running in the thousands of pesos per operator.
“Alam na alam ng mga operators at drivers eto lalo na nung natigil ang pasada at walang kita, walang pang registro,” said Mendoza.
The public transport system is in “deep” undeniable situation because once the “Free Riders Program” of the Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (DOTr-LTFRB) is expired, all operators are back in reality.
“Sobrang taas ng presyo ng krudo tapos ayaw ibigay ang taas ng dagdag na pamasahe, talagang maski mga fleet operators ay baka 3 beses munang mag-iisip kung bibiyahe pa,” said Mendoza.
