'Pass through' fees illegal
Owners of delivery trucks using the government's strong republic national highway have complained of the illegal collection of fees by some local government units. It's good that Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno has come out with a memorandum circular clearly stating that the collection of “pass through” fees on delivery trucks passing their area of jurisdiction is illegal or not covered by their taxing powers. Indeed, collection of fees on delivery trucks passing the national highways is no longer necessary since owners of motor vehicles are already paying the road users tax and delivery trucks are merely passing by the road which is being maintained by the national government not the LGU.
Smoke belchers abound
If you happen to roam around Iloilo City riding on public transport you will notice that a lot of vehicles, particularly public utility vehicles, emit thick black smoke. Maybe it's time for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to check on smoke belchers. It's quite a long time that we haven't seen DENR personnel conducting random smoke test on vehicles so it's high time that they do it for the sake of public health and of the environment.
Boracay's environmental fee
Many tourists going to Boracay Island are wondering where the P50.00 environmental fee that they are paying go. You can just imagine how much the provincial government could collect everyday from visitors going to the widely popular resort. Wala man sang makita nga improvement sa katinlo sang isla. Moreover, Aklanons are exempted from the environmental fee. But how sure are they that only non-Aklanons make Boracay dirty? Indi ayhan class legislation ini?