ROXAS TO EXECUTIVE: WHERE'S THE RELIEF?
HITS NO GOVT INITIATIVE AS WORLD OIL HITS $103, LOCAL PUMP HIKES 50c

Senator Mar Roxas hit the executive's lack of initiative in dealing with the continued rise in the price of oil, now at around $103 per barrel worldwide and has led oil companies to raise prices by P0.50 per liter over the weekend.

"Where's the relief our people are looking for? What else can the government do aside from the token cut in oil tariffs and aside from holding its energy summit that ended in motherhood statements?" Roxas, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, said.

"Kung hindi bulag at manhid ang administrasyon sa patuloy na pagdurusa ng mga kababayan natin sa kabila ng pataas nang pataas na presyo ng langis, dapat nitong i-endorso ang pagsuspinde ng VAT sa langis," he stressed.

The executive had organized an Energy Summit in late January, where oil companies had committed to reducing prices after the government had reduced the 3% tariff to 1%. Recently, the government brought tariffs up to 2%.

Roxas said that instead of giving these incrementalist solutions, the government must give back to the people the money they paid for the 12% VAT on oil. He stressed that the people need their money now more than the government needs taxes.

"Hindi ako naniniwala na walang magagawa ang gobyerno para bigyan ng ginhawa ang ating mga komyuter at konsyumer. Kung talagang gugustuhin lang nila, hindi nila ipagdadamot itong P15 bilyong revenue na mawawala sa kanila," he said.

"We can't continue applying the same old medicine to a new disease. We don't have a fiscal crisis anymore, but the government still continues to impose this tax despite all time-high oil prices," he stressed.

Roxas, Liberal Party President, said the bottom line in this scenario is that the people need a government that responds to their needs more than ever.

"If only our people saw some change in their lives for the better, there would be a little bit more trust in our government. But if the number of people assembling in the streets is any indication, the government has done little to ease their plight," he added.

Roxas' Senate Bill No. 1962 for the suspension of the VAT on oil products is now being tackled at the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, headed by Senator Francis Escudero. In the House of Representatives, a counterpart bill has been filed by Liberal Party Secretary-General and Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, which is also pending at the committee level.