The leaders of United Negros Drivers Operators Center yesterday said they were discontented with the decision of Malacañang in not lifting the 12 percent value-added tax on oil products.

UNDOC secretary general Jesse Ortega, however, said they did not ask President Benigno Aquino III to lift the 12 percent VAT, but asked him to, at least, reduce it to help local drivers.

“Reducing the VAT by at least 50 percent would be a big help for us, especially here in Negros Occidental where the oil price disparity is unexplainable,” Ortega said.

“We feel that the government has taken us for granted after all the petitions we made and protest-rallies we conducted, it still does not understand the difficulty of the drivers every time oil prices increase,” he also said.

He added that they were totally dismayed by the government’s answer that they are currently reviewing the Oil Deregulation Law and looking into other alternatives to, at least, help the drivers.

Ortega said the law has not been put to use since the oil industry was privatized, and it is not an excuse for the government to say that they are reviewing it.

He added that the statement of Malacañang in not lowering the 12 percent VAT on oil will result in the highest form of protest. *LTG

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