Statement
June 3, 2018
NDFP-North Eastern Mindanao Region are with the people in the region in strongly condemning the constant price increases of basic commodities under the anti-poor, anti-people and pro-imperialist Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law of the US-Duterte regime which started on the first month of this year.
The US-Duterte regime pushed for the implementation of the TRAIN law in the country as additional source of funds for his grandiose Build, Build, Build projects. As such, the excise tax on petroleum products was increased without removing the 12% VAT resulting to the relentless price increases of basic commodities such as rice, salt, sugar, among others.
Aside from the Downstream Oil Deregulation Law, the TRAIN law gives vast power to the capitalists to raise prices of petroleum products without the reactionary government’s price control. The imperialists are able to rake in more profit from the additional taxes being shouldered by the people.
According to April figures, the rate of inflation has reached 4.5 percent (low money value while prices of commodities are increasing) within only four months when in the past it took 5 years before reaching such proportion. With the constant rise of petroleum products other fees also increased such as fare, electricity, water, among others.
In the region alone, the people are utterly enraged at the US-Duterte regime for the endless rise of prices of basic commodities. Before the implementation of the TRAIN law, rice was at 42.00 pesos a kilo, it has now reached 51.00 pesos a kilo. Gasoline prices before the TRAIN law was implemented was at 45.00 pesos a liter, now it has reached 51.00 pesos a liter.
These all means that the people in the region are bearing the effects of the TRAIN law. Clearly there is a big difference in the current prices of basic commodities compared to when the TRAIN law was not yet in effect. Majority of the poor already found it difficult to pay for their basic needs before the imposition of the TRAIN law and it has gotten worse now.
The miserable situation of farmers and agricultural workers is worsening as prices of their products and wages have not increased. The current prices of farm products remain, such as price of bananas purchased by buyers from the farmers which remain at 9.00 pesos a kilo, while the whole coconut remain at 4.00 pesos a kilo and rice at 17.00 pesos a kilo. The farmers are more at a shortfall now because of higher farming expenditures compared to their meager yield. In addition, they are obligated to pay soaring rent of the land and other agricultural equipment to the landlord.
The previous 300.00 pesos minimum wage in the region has increased to a mere 305.00, this is far from the 1,171.00 pesos daily expenditures for a family of six to live decently.
It is clear that the people are baing killed slowly by the US-Duterte regime’s TRAIN law. Because of this more and more people are calling for an end and the rejection of the said law.
Thus, there is a need for constant arousing, organizing and mobilizing of the people to creat a strong and firm unity that will destroy the utterly anti-people and anti-nationalist laws and policies imposed by the US-Duterte regime. ###
Ka Maria Malaya
Spokesperson
NDFP-NEMR
https://www.ndfp.org/scrap-the-train-law-that-is-plunging-the-people-into-utter-destitution/
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