Subsidies for drivers and farmers pushed

The private sector led research and advocacy think-tank Universal Access to Competitiveness (U-ACT) is calling on the government to implement subsidies to disadvantaged sectors such as drivers and farmers.

An advocacy to provide subsidy to drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs), taxi, and buses as well as farmers will be pushed by the U-Act to ease consumers’ burden on the surging costs of fuel, food, and other basic necessities.

U-Act chairman and founder Donald G. Dee said that, the government should now act on implementing some reforms that would favor the grassroots segment of the society, who are mostly affected by the negative movements in the market.

The public transportation drivers for instance are the most affected by the rising fuel prices rather than the operators of their rented vehicles while farmers are left with very little income as the huge chunk of the profit goes to the middle men.

Direct subsidies to PUV, taxi and bus drivers, as well as the farmgate players are strongly pushed by the group, so that the mass segment of the society will be given assistance during these times of difficulties.

The U-Act, which is an advocacy think-tank of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), has drum-up support of its advocacy campaigns to the regional chamber such as Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), among others to call on the government to implement sound policies that would protect the most sensitive sectors in the society.

U-Act, implementing body of the Institutionalization of Multi-stakeholder (I-Must) consultation program on trade policy and negotiations, will soon draft its own suggestion of reforms to government’s several trade policy’s, including suggestions on the World Trade Organization’s (WTO), Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Dee was in Cebu recently the lead to group of I-Must team on consultation workshop on the Development of regional free trade negotiations and agreements and the institutionalization of I-Must, that would involve active participation from the regional business community.

Dee, former president of PCCCI, said that the private sector will push the government to change taxation policies, from corporate income tax concept, to consumption-based taxes, so that the mainstream consumers will not be prejudiced.

He said most of the daily-earners are buying their daily necessities in the wet-market, where products are not “vat-able.” The rich Filipinos on the other hand, that buy their grocery and other necessities in the department stores, will be paying more taxes.  – Ehda M. Dagooc