PGMA urged to prioritize House Bills for P125 wage increase and the removal of VAT on petroleum products amid rice and food cris

Philippines, not to be another Haiti where people run riot due to food crisis.

THIS morning the Kilusang Mayo Uno urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to consider as priority House bill the proposal for P125 wage increase across-the-board for all workers and the bill for the removal of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil to alleviate the worsening rice crisis and soaring prices of basic commodities.

Wilson Baldonaza, KMU Secretary-General, said that the President should make positive steps to avert food riots in the Philippines as what is happening in Haiti due to food crisis.

President Arroyo should not wait for the Pilipinos to run riot just because they can no longer afford to buy even the cheaper NFA rice, noodles and sardines. She should compel the Congress to prioritize House Bill 1722 or the proposal for P125 wage hike for the workers. If PGMA has political will she must also remove the VAT on petroleum products because this will reduce, even minimal, the spiraling daily cost of living of the Filipino family.

The labor leader asserted that once the proposed P125 bill is approved, this would provide immediate economic relief, albeit temporary, against the galloping prices of basic commodities, such as rice, meat, chicken, vegetables, canned goods and bread.

Baldonaza also added that if VAT is removed from petroleum products, some of the benefits for the masses are the following: 1) P59.00 reduction or savings for all users of 11-kg LPG. This will benefit 5.9 million households or 43.1 up to 51.7 million individuals in the country, 2) added income of P123.00 per working day that would benefit 426,572 jeepney drivers or 2.1 up to 2.6 individuals, 3) added income of P19.00 per day for 581,578 tricycle drivers or 2.9 up to 3.5 million individuals.

Baldonaza declared that the KMU, together with COURAGE, will launch a big rally on the reopening session of the Congress on April 21, to assert the P125 wage hike for all workers in private sector, and P3,000 for the public sector or government employees.

“On April 21, we will rattle Congress to act and immediately pass into law the bills for P125 wage hike and P3,000 increase for government employees. They will also be called upon to enact the bill for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law that spurred the unending oil price increases,” stressed Baldonaza.

Meanwhile, Baldonaza pointed out that the people must be vigilant on the latest attempt of the Arroyo government to promote the interest of the traders, businessmen and rice cartel by increasing the price of NFA rice.

“We condemn the attempt of the Arroyo government to increase the price of NFA rice during these times when the rice queues are getting longer in the streets, at the NFA warehouses and in church outlets just for the masses to buy the cheaper rice. During this rice crisis wherein workers are underpaid and people have no livelihoods to lean on, the Arroyo administration must side with the people. If the government proceeds with its plan to increase the price of NFA rice, it will be hard to avert the spectacle of hungry people performing something nightmarish and unnecessary due to hunger and poverty,” opined Baldonaza.