Two days before the imposition of the Value-Added Tax on tolls, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno warned Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III that pushing through with the measure will likely ignite mass unrest against his government.
“Pres. Aquino should not be so arrogant about his popularity as to ignore protests against policies that will make the Filipino workers and people even poorer. His popularity will surely be eroded should he push through with imposing the VAT on tolls,” said Roger Soluta, KMU secretary-general.
KMU said the president has refused to implement a substantial wage hike while allowing the prices of basic goods, especially oil, and services to increase unabated. It said the president has likewise failed to generate employment while continuing to demolish the homes of the urban poor.
“He is pushing workers and poor people against the wall and there’s a limit to what we can take. We will intensify fighting back if he does not stop,” he added.
“VAT on tolls, MRT-LRT fare hike, electricity rate hike, oil price hikes – workers and poor people won’t take these sitting down. His popularity will tend to plummet with all of these,” he said.
Porsche Part 2
The labor center said the president is again showing his callousness in not doing anything about the impending imposition of VAT on toll fees amidst non-stop typhoons pummeling the country.
“The imposition of the VAT on toll will be Porsche Part 2 for the president. He will most likely be condemned for being callous towards the plight of the workers and poor people,” Soluta said.
“He may brag about being on top of the situation here in the country even when he was in Japan, but he sure is detached from the realities on the ground,” he added.
“Imposing the VAT on toll amidst the devastation wrought by a typhoon and news of new typhoons coming to the country is like dabbing salt into an open wound,” he said. Roger Soluta, KMU Secretary General
