NATIONWIDE TRANSPORT STRIKE LOOMS OVER FARE, PRICE HIKES
MANILA, MAY 7, 2008 (STAR) The first and largest transport strike to be spearheaded by the biggest transport group – the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) – will be held this month to protest surging oil prices and lobby for the junking of the 12-percent expanded value added tax (EVAT).PISTON secretary-general George San Mateo, in a press statement, said this will be the first time that transport holidays in the country will be joined by cooperative organizations and all kinds of public vehicles.
He said two groups had already committed to participate in the protest action, along with other transport organizations under the United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK).
San Mateo said they are in constant talks with transport group leaders like Zeny Maranan of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines (FEJODAP) to iron out the final date and issues to be tackled in the planned protest.
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes vowed he would not allow oil firms to impose “unreasonable prices” for their products.
While admitting the government cannot dictate the prices of fuel products under the oil deregulation law, Reyes said they would ask the oil firms to be more transparent and reasonable in implementing prices.
“The regime of high oil prices is a reality and the government will ensure that oil companies are in compliance with existing laws and regulations. We will not allow unreasonable pricing,” he said.
Reyes made the statement following a meeting with representatives of oil companies and other stakeholders held at the Department of Energy last Monday.
As an additional measure, Reyes said Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile is drafting an anti-trust law to prevent monopoly in the oil business.
“In the long-term, we are instituting measures that will lessen the country’s dependence on oil imports, such as pushing for the development and increased contribution of renewable energy to our energy mix,” he said.
During the meeting, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. country chairman Edgar Chua presented a cost breakdown of their products and enumerated the factors affecting prices.
The representatives of oil companies present during the meeting collectively claimed they have to impose the new increases for their “under-recovery” due to the continued increase in the price of crude and diesel in the international market.
This would explain the weekly increase of 50 centavos per liter in pump prices.
Chua added that based on a purely cost point of view, oil companies would need to recover an additional P6 per liter and more adjustments will be made in the coming weeks.
In estimating how much pump prices will increase, Chua said the competitive nature of the oil industry, as well as the sensitivity of the public, will be taken into consideration.
While oil companies are now occupied with breaking even in their operations, Chua said they are aware of their social responsibility to the public and the adverse effects of implementing a new round of increase.
Wage hike order out by next week By Mayen Jaymalin Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Metro Manila workers will finally get their much awaited salary increase next week.
A ranking labor official yesterday reported that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Metro Manila is expected to come out with a new wage order by May 15.
“All the wage boards are already conducting the public hearings and deliberations and at least the wage board in the National Capital Region (NCR) is expected to render a decision by May 15,” said an official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) who requested anonymity.
Acting Labor Secretary Marianito Roque noted that the wage boards are fast-tracking the procedures on wage fixing but he declined to reveal the date when the wage boards are coming out with their decisions.
“Everything is moving and they’re moving fast,” Roque said in an interview.
He said the wage boards are exerting all effort to grant salary increases at the soonest possible time to help workers cope with the rising cost of essential commodities.
Roque also expressed confidence that the wage boards would be able to come up with decisions that are beneficial to both workers and employers.
“It would be very difficult, but they (employers and workers) have to agree somewhere in the middle,” Roque pointed out.
Earlier, employers warned against granting excessive salary increases while the workers cautioned against measly adjustments.
However, Roque said that even with a minimal wage increase, workers would be experiencing economic relief with the impending passage of a law exempting minimum wage earners from paying taxes.
“DOLE is pushing for the tax exemption law because it would provide between P32 to P38 increase in daily pay and that’s already substantial even with minimal salary adjustments,” he said.
He added that DOLE is also working with employers nationwide to provide their workers with other non-wage benefits such as free transportation and day care centers.
“So far, employers are positively responding to our appeal to provide their workers with additional non-wage benefits,” Roque said.
Meanwhile, DOLE reported that a majority of commercial establishments nationwide are giving social protection to their workers.
Data from DOLE’s Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) showed that vital compulsory social protection and benefits to workers, like SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth and Pag-Ibig, were provided by almost all of the 25,349 establishments in the non-agricultural sector nationwide.
“Results of the survey demonstrate that the country’s establishments are keeping pace with the government’s mandates for the comprehensive social protection of workers, by taking efforts to comply with and pursue such relevant compensation schemes necessary for the welfare and well-being of the nation’s workforce,” Roque said
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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