Palace bid to ban import of RHD vehicles criticized

By JONAS REYES

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT- A call by Malacañang for Congress to pass a law banning an entry pf used vehicles was criticized by various sectors here, particularly those benefiting from the car-convention industry.

Leaders of labor groups, student organizations, machine shop operators, fish and vegetables dealers, and traders of second-hand vehicles are protesting the move of Malacañang to provide undue protection to brand-new vehicle importers and traders.

Motor Vehicle Importers Association (MVIA) president Peter Geroue said that there is no need for Malacañang to put pressure on Congress because the latter has already ruled out any violation of laws covering the importation and conversion of Right-Hand-Drive (RHD) vehicles in this Freeport zone.

The Congressional reports were presented by the House committee on transportation and communications together with the committee on trade and industry during the 12th Congress. The two committees conducted thorough investigation on the importation of RHD vehicles for about two years.

“The new investigation would be a waste of time and taxpayers’ money because the legal issues pertaining to the importation of RHD vehicles into Subic Freeport, including their conversion, has already been resolve by Congress itself,” Geroue said.

He cited item 1, section 5 of the house joint committee report no. 2157 dated June 10,2004. It stated that “no pertinent and existing and existing law or regulation is here by regulated by bringing into the Subic Special Economic Zone of right-handed drive vehicles as well as their conversion as long as it is made within the Freeport Zone.”

Geroue said that the automotive factoring industry falsely claimed that in year 2002, some 200,000 vehicles were registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and out of this figure only 80,000 were those sold by brand-new car dealers.

“To clarify those allegations, a total annual average of no more than 10,000 units of second-hand passenger and utility vehicles entered through Subic Freeport,” Geroue said.

Geroue informed President Arroyo that of thousands of skilled workers here, particularly those engaged in automotive rebuilding, are facing uncertainties because of the government’s lack of sympathy to the industry.

The affected workers such as mechanics, auto-electrician, car painters and alike reiterated their appeal to the government to prevent the dislocation of their families.

“The government should be more consistent with its socio-economic agenda of creating more employment opportunities for Filipinos,” Geroue said.

Some 30,000 workers, including members of their families, would be displaced by the “sudden death” of second-hand vehicle industry. Official records in the Freeport zone showed that there are about 6,000 direct-hire workers with an average of five members of the family for each worker.