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By Katrina Mennen A. Valdez, Reporter
LOCAL truckers on Wednesday
sought their inclusion in the government’s oil subsidy program,
which already benefits public utility jeepneys and buses.
Rodolfo de Ocampo, head of the
Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines, said the
group will push for a P2 diesel subsidy.
“Even if the P2 subsidy will
only be given in three months, it is enough for the truckers to
survive without increasing our freight charges,” de Ocampo said.
At P30 per liter of diesel, the
truckers’ delivery fee stood at P5,000 per 25,000 metric tons. Of
the unmoved charge of P5,000, the trucking companies earn about 18
percent from the delivery fee in Metro Manila, while truckers only
get 13 percent in provincial trips.
“At the level of P30 per one
liter of diesel, [we] earn a very minimal income. It has not moved
up to now that diesel price stood at P41.82 per liter,” he said.
Trade Undersecretary Zenaida C.
Maglaya, said the Departments of Finance and of Energy have yet to
include truckers in the P2 subsidy, adding, “[We] are confident
that they will be included.”
She however said the Finance
department is still looking into the revenue impact of such a move.
During Wednesday’s meeting of
the National Price Coordinating Council, Maglaya said prices of
construction materials like cement increased by P5. The same goes
for steel bars and galvanized iron sheets.
She said supplies for the
forthcoming school year are adequate, as dealers have committed to
keep their prices at the same level as last year.
Tin can costs however raised the
price of sardines from P10.50 to P11.50, even as milk manufacturers
have yet to increase their prices.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary
Salvador Salacup said fertilizer prices likewise have increased from
P900 per sack to P1,200.
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