Iloilo Gov. Defensor favors jeepney fare hike amid soaring fuel prices
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. PHOTO from https://www.iloilo.gov.ph
ILOILO CITY — Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. was in favor of increasing the jeepney fare in the province of Iloilo amid the continuous spike in the price of fuel like gasoline and diesel.
He said that this was the only possible measure at the moment because of the oil price hike in the country.
The provincial government was also planning to give financial assistance to the public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers.
Defensor appealed to commuters and PUJ drivers to cooperate because everyone has been facing the same problem right now.
Different transport groups urged the national government to suspend the 12 percent value-added tax and excise tax on fuel.
READ: Group backs suspension of excise tax on select fuel products
READ: DOF: PH to lose P147.1-B if excise tax, VAT on fuels suspended
Defensor, however, disagreed with that idea stating that the law gave more balance and it was more helpful because of the revenue it gave to the government and the services and programs it could implement through it.
As of March 15, there was already an increase of P7.10 per liter in the price of gasoline, P10.50 in kerosene, and P13.15 in diesel.
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