Press Release
February 22, 2013

CAYETANO: VAT ON GAS AFFECTING JEEPNEY, TRICYCLE DRIVERS

Senator Alan Cayetano told jeepney and tricycle drivers in Dagupan today that he will urge President Benigno Aquino III to reconsider the application of VAT on gasoline.

"Isa yan sa mga matagal ko nang ipinapaglaban," Cayetano said. "Ang VAT sa gasolina ay dapat bawasan dahil nagreresulta lang ito sa mas mataas na presyo na hindi abot-kaya ng masa." (I have long been fighting for a decrease in VAT on oil because it only results in high prices that the poor cannot afford.)

Cayetano expressed concern for the dismal situation of the transportation sector of Dagupan jeepney and tricycle drivers. They revealed that they are losing more than half of their day's earnings just to pay for gas and boundary charges leaving them with a few hundred pesos to take home.

The senator met with the jeepney and tricycle drivers and operators in the city of Dagupan in Pangasinan as part of his listening tour on PiTiK: Presyo, Trabaho, and Kita. "The goal of PiTiK is to get more creative ideas from the grassroots. Instead of just me talking, I am here to listen. I personally want to know where the people are good at and the resources that we have so I can help come up with better programs for them so that the economic growth can trickle down to our ordinary workers, especially in the provinces," Cayetano said.

Cayetano explained how his family traces its roots back to the province. "We have never forgotten the people of Pangasinan. That's why it's so disheartening to hear how our kababayans here are suffering."

Sen. Cayetano is now on his way to Baguio for the Panagbenga festival where he will also meet with members of the transport sector there to see how the recent rise in the prices of oil affects their distribution of goods, especially vegetables.

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