Aquino apprehensive about extending fuel subsidy to farmers, fishermen

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Monday said the government is looking into the possible expansion of fuel subsidy to farmers and fisherfolks but admitted being apprehensive on how the government could implement it. He said tricycles and public utility jeepneys, the initial target beneficiaries of subsidy, have franchises which the authorities could use as a basis for distributing the smart cards that will be used in getting the fuel discounts. “Sa transport may mga prangkisa, more or less masisigurado nating mapupuntahan yung dapat puntahan. Hindi ako ganun ka-sure dun sa mga nagpapatakbo ng farm implements," he told reporters in an interview in Malacañang. “Kung paaano natin i-direct na walang double-counting, e walang registration. Sa fishermen, I’m not sure how thorough is the coverage of the Coast Guard through registration, that (proposal) is being studied at the present time," Aquino said. In the same interview, the President again thumbed down proposals to reduce or remove value added tax on fuel products. “Yung transport assistance, feeling namin mas directed dun sa kumukunsumo, dun sa mga pasahero na magkakaroon ng dagdag sa pamasahe kung di natin iimplement ito," he said. “Yung pag-reduce ng VAT o pagtanggal ng VAT, gagawin mo indirect, parang wala talagang focus. Palagay ko diyan madadagdagan lang ang pagkunsumo natin ng krudo, walang talagang pakinabang, mawawalan pa revenues sa gobyerno na siya namang magagamit sa iba’t ibang pangangailangan," he added. On Thursday last week, Aquino announced the one-month fuel subsidy for public utility jeepneys and tricycles in light of the rising oil prices (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/216620/govt-to-provide-fuel-subsidy-to-jeepneys-tricycles). It would most likely be implemented in May as the government is still finalizing the details of the assistance to drivers. On Friday, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said the farmers and fishermen in the should be included in the subsidy because “they are the hardest hit by the unabated spiralling increase of fuel prices. He said the government could do it by getting a list of legitimate marginal fishermen and farmers from the municipal hall. “Fishermen use gasoline for their motorized boats while farmers for their tractors and other farm machineries. These sectors are adversely affected by the high cost of fuel. It is unfortunate that they are voiceless compared to jeepney and bus drivers in Metro Manila that’s why most of the time their interests are being neglected," Evardone said. – VVP, GMA News