Citing the skyrocketing cost of fuel, Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero urged the government to reconsider its order for employees of business process outsourcing (BPO) centers to return to their offices by April 1.
“Noong una, COVID-19 ang kalaban natin—at nandyan pa rin naman ang banta ng virus—pero ngayon tila mas malaking banta ang linggo-linggong pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo at ang nagbabadyang pagtaas din ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” Escudero said.
“Kung kaya rin lang naman nila magtrabaho at maging produktibo sa bahay, bakit pa natin pipiliting bumiyahe ang mga tao? Baka pwedeng huwag na muna tayo dumagdag sa gastusin kasi nagsisimula pa lang tayo bumangon, at ito na nga, may kinakaharap na naman tayong bagong problema. Pwede bang status quo muna habang nag-iisip tayo ng solusyon?” he said.
The Fiscal Incentives Review Board, chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, has mandated BPO companies in economic zones to return to their offices by April 1 or they could lose their tax incentives—a move strongly opposed by BPO workers and even by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, which will appeal the decision.
Escudero, who is seeking a Senate comeback, said the Finance Secretary seems to be out of touch with the realities faced by people on the ground.
“Kailan lang ay iminungkahi nito ang pagkakaroon ng bago o mas mataas na buwis para may ipambayad ang gobyerno sa mga utang na hindi naman dapat mga mamamayan ang nagbabayad. Ngayon, ito na naman—gustong pabalikin ang mga BPO workers sa opisina kahit ang presyo ng gas ay halos isandaan na. Talaga bang napakahirap ilagay ang sarili nila sa lugar ng ordinaryong Pilipino? Can we not show a little compassion?” he said.
As of March 16, the pump prices of gas and diesel have reached Php94/liter and Php84/liter, respectively. Public utility vehicles have asked for a fare hike to cut their losses.
“This is why I have always said that the people who make policies and regulations should not do so from the comfort of their airconditioned offices, oblivious to the plight of those who struggle daily and who have to live with the decisions made by officials in glass towers,” Escudero said.
The BPO industry is the biggest private sector employer in the Philippines, contributing over $26 billion to the economy and employing at least 1.3 million people. Even in 2021, during an extended pandemic, BPO companies created 100,000 new jobs and logged in $28.8 billion in revenue, according to the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines.