‘DoTr should find other transport modes’

THE government should seriously start considering the use of available technologies in looking for alternative modes of transportation, instead of looking for ways on how to lower fuel cost, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday.

The Senate majority leader said that while the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act ( Train) law contributed to the increase in the prices of fuel and some goods, there were other factors that caused the price spikes, including the high cost of petroleum products in the world market.

“We are not the only country experiencing high fuel prices. Our neighbors in Southeast Asia are also feeling the impact and it is a worldwide phenomenon,” Zubiri told reporters in an interview.

He said that while the suspension of specific provisions or the entire Train law

could somehow help lower fuel prices, it would be better if the Department of Energy find solutions to the problem like the use of alternative fuels and electric vehicles ( e- vehicles).

A number of lawmakers have been calling for the suspension of fuel excise taxes amid mounting complaints that the new tax law aggravated price spikes on the back of rising global fuel costs and weakening peso.

But the Finance department opposed the proposal, claiming that the tax reform law was necessary to shore up revenues to finance infrastructure programs and other projects of government.

Zubiri said the finance and the energy departments should come up with alternative modes of transportation by utilizing new technologies like e- vehicles. The two departments should also come up with an incentive program for e- vehicles to make it easier for the government to convince the public to make the shift.

Government agencies should also promote the use of alternative fuel like biodiesel and ethanol that are cheaper compared to the current prices of petroleum products.

“Instead of always trying to find out how to bring down the prices of oil, we should focus on alternatives,” Zubiri added.