THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers challenged presidential candidates to include in their platforms the scrapping of oil taxes and the raising of wages of Filipino workers.

The call came as oil prices surged.

In 2021, gasoline prices increased to as much as P20.80/liter for gasoline and P18.25/liter for diesel.

“The steep rise in oil prices will lead to further increases in nearly all other goods and services. We are hardly making ends meet with our measly pay and with the direly lacking state support to ordinary folks amid the pandemic and socio-economic crisis in the country. With the election coming up, we need to hear from aspiring candidates how they intend to address these problems which they will surely be inheriting from the criminally negligent Duterte administration. We challenge those who wish to be elected in office to make the people’s demands their top platforms,” Raymond Basilio, the group’s secretary general, said.

ACT noted that the TRAIN Law resulted in a P10 excise tax paid for by consumers, on top of the 12 percent value added tax.

The group reiterated that these taxes have long been onerous to the poor.

“Getting rid of these anti-people taxes can bring immediate relief to reeling Filipinos. However, these alone will not suffice. The government should also be working towards raising the overall standards of living in the country, which in turn will help our economy flourish. The question is, who among our candidates will pledge to these causes?” Basilio asked.

The group also asserted the need to provide economic aid to millions of Filipinos who were pushed deeper into poverty when the pandemic hit.

ACT called on the candidates to consider increasing the pay of education workers.