Post by Forum Moderator / Kaskasero on Jul 8, 2008 13:56:54 GMT 8
Bishops call for review of oil deregulation and E-VAT laws
By : Cher Jimenez | Business Mirror
8 July 2008 | 11:26 AM
Coming out of its regular midyear meeting, the Catholic Church on Monday called for a review of the country’s oil deregulation and the expanded value-added tax (E-VAT) laws imposed on oil imports in the wake of a spate of price increases this year.
“Out of sympathy for them [people] there should be a review of these laws, especially their effects in the increase in gasoline prices,” Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, told reporters yesterday.
The bishops have just concluded a three-day biannual meeting where they discussed social issues and offer solutions.
Lagdameo said the CBCP is supportive of moves to review the oil- deregulation law and the E-VAT to determine their connection to the continued increase in oil prices which have now reached an all-time-high of $145 per barrel in the world market.
According to him, the bishops are concerned that poor Filipino families bear the most burden from price increases in basic commodities as a result of continued oil-price hikes.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said while the government boasts that the E-VAT helped a lot in tax collection, a study should be done if this benefited the poor.
“We should seriously look at it if it really helped the people,” Pabillo said.
Congress enacted the Oil Deregulation Act in 1998 to level the playing field among oil-industry players and encourage new ones to enter the business in a bid to destroy a so-called dominion of an oil cartel.
The law restricted the government from interfering in the pricing, exportation and importation of oil products which are now being determined by private firms.
By : Cher Jimenez | Business Mirror
8 July 2008 | 11:26 AM
Coming out of its regular midyear meeting, the Catholic Church on Monday called for a review of the country’s oil deregulation and the expanded value-added tax (E-VAT) laws imposed on oil imports in the wake of a spate of price increases this year.
“Out of sympathy for them [people] there should be a review of these laws, especially their effects in the increase in gasoline prices,” Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, told reporters yesterday.
The bishops have just concluded a three-day biannual meeting where they discussed social issues and offer solutions.
Lagdameo said the CBCP is supportive of moves to review the oil- deregulation law and the E-VAT to determine their connection to the continued increase in oil prices which have now reached an all-time-high of $145 per barrel in the world market.
According to him, the bishops are concerned that poor Filipino families bear the most burden from price increases in basic commodities as a result of continued oil-price hikes.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said while the government boasts that the E-VAT helped a lot in tax collection, a study should be done if this benefited the poor.
“We should seriously look at it if it really helped the people,” Pabillo said.
Congress enacted the Oil Deregulation Act in 1998 to level the playing field among oil-industry players and encourage new ones to enter the business in a bid to destroy a so-called dominion of an oil cartel.
The law restricted the government from interfering in the pricing, exportation and importation of oil products which are now being determined by private firms.