Roxas: Consumer, vendor complaints on prices proof of oil price hike woes

LEGAZPI CITY — Senatorial candidate Mar Roxas slammed Friday the National Economic and Development Authority’s (Neda) statement that oil price increase was not a threat to the economy.

Roxas, who was campaigning at the Legazpi City Public Market, said that in his visits to markets, vendors and consumers have been complaining about the rise in the price of commodities.

“Talagang nagpapatunay na hindi sila nakatungtong sa kahirapan at tsaka sa katototohanan kasi dito sa palengke, kung tatanungin mo ang mga tao, pinakanirereklamo (ang) sobrang pagtaas ng presyong bilihin (It is obvious that they had not known poverty. In truth, if you come here in the market to ask the people, their main complaint is the severe rise in prices of commodities),” Roxas told the media.

“That is connected to the imposing of taxes on petroleum products because of TRAIN Law,” the former senator, known as Mr. Palengke, said.

“We all know that has a domino effect. When the prices of transportation rise, the prices of commodities follow.”

He said the government has control over the rise of petroleum prices.

“Prices went up by 10 pesos per liter because of Congress. That could be scrapped or suspended,” he said, saying that once elected to the Senate again, he would file a bill to remove the taxes on petroleum.

Roxas also said Filipino farmers would not benefit from importing goods.

Farmers and fisherfolk in the country must be empowered by loaning money to help them modernize their facilities and give them access to hybrid seeds, he said.