By E. T. SUAREZ
Transport groups vowed yesterday to charge commuters, who are going to or returning from the provinces in connection with the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, the old fare even as the cost of diesel, gasoline, kerosene, and other petroleum products is expected to go up by 10 percent when the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9337, the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) law, takes effect on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
The transport groups — led by the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA), and Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) — said they are willing to shoulder the additional expense for fuel to be triggered by the implementation of 10 percent EVAT to make sure that no passenger returning from the long holidays will be stranded.
The groups said the additional expense for diesel due to the 10 percent EVAT will be substantial as there is always a heavy influx of passengers returning from a long holiday.
They said they could reduce the number of their units in the field to save on the additional cost of fuel but they will not do this to enable commuters to return safely in time for the working day on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
Although Friday, Nov. 4, has been declared by President Arroyo as a nonworking day in celebration of the Feast of Ramadan, Thursday, Nov. 3, is a regular working day.
With the imposition of 10 percent EVAT, the cost of diesel is expected to go up starting Tuesday from R31.40-R33.85 a liter to R32.75-R35.44 a liter while the price of unleaded gasoline is seen to increase from R38.28 to R39.44 per liter. The other petroleum product which price is expected to go up is kerosene from R32.60-R33.85 a liter to R35.20-R36.60.
The cost of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is expected to go up from R422R482 to R455.37-R521 per 11-kilogram cylinder when the 10 percent EVAT takes effect.
Bus and jeepney operators said that after the holidays, they will continue their campaign for the dismantling of the oil cartel, the repeal of the Oil Industry Deregulation Act, and the suspension of the implementation of 10 percent EVAT so as not to make life more difficult for daily wage earners and their families.
