NEWS RELEASE
26 May 2010
Malacañang remains merciless up to the end with its defense of the onerous 300 percent toll fee increase at the South Luzon Expressway which will be implemented next month, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno said today.
KMU said Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar’s claim that the huge toll fee hike will ensure a “fair return” to foreign investors smacks of the Arroyo regime’s never-ending subservience to corporate interests at the expense of the Filipino people.
“Workers strongly oppose such anti-people measure, as it will translate to another burden to both motorists and commuters who are already bearing the brunt of soaring prices,” said KMU chairperson “Elmer” Bong” Labog.
“Gloria Arroyo is rendering a final trick to please foreign corporations with the imposition of the highly unjust toll fee hike, which is expected to generate P12 billion. At the same time, she is further stoking the people’s wrath over her regime.”
“She is tightening the noose already laced around her neck with the 300 percent toll fee hike as she chooses to side with corporate interests up to the end,” he added.
Labog also questioned the basis of the toll fee hike, saying “it is clearly unjust to pass on the burden of recovering the expenses for the highway’s improvement to motorists, who have long served as milking cow of the government through the road user’s tax.”
“Collections from the road user’s tax, which stand at P42 billion from 2001 to 2008, should be supposedly used for the improvement of roads and highways. So why is it that motorists, who actually pay such tax through registration, are now being forced to shoulder another burden?” said Labog.
“The planned 300 percent toll fee hike is simply too much for motorists who have also experienced heavy traffic for years in the SLEX due to various construction projects there,” he added.
KMU said it will support the efforts of various motorists and commuters’ groups to derail the impending scheme of the Arroyo government.
“We will actively campaign against such anti-people trick and unite with other sectors and groups in blocking the onerous and unjust toll fee hike,” Labog said. (Bulatlat.com)
Reference:
Elmer “Bong” Labog
KMU chairperson
