2024-07-08 23:33:50
In compliance with the resolution of the National Assembly, which authorized the Commission for Transparency, Social Control and Citizen Participation to oversee the signing of the agreement between Ecuador and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the opinions of the transportation sector were heard regarding the elimination of gasoline subsidies and the increase in its prices.
The event was attended by Víctor Moncayo, president of the National Federation of Tricycles and Mototaxis; Luis Díaz, president of the Chamber of Tourist Transport; Luisa Angamarca, president of the Consortium of Tourist Transport; Ángel Macías, president of the Federation of Heavy Transport Cooperatives; and Washington Núñez, president of the National Federation of Urban Transport.
The president of the commission, Patricio Chávez, said that it is important to give all voices the opportunity to express their positions regarding the recent agreement signed by the Executive with the IMF, and one of them is that of the transporters, since it is one of the sectors directly affected by the measure.
Victor Moncayo, representative of the country’s tricycle drivers, stated that the union reached an agreement with the National Government on the compensation it will receive to cope with the impact of the rise in fuel prices.
The same fate did not affect the tourist transport sector, which was represented by Luis Díaz and Luisa Angamarca. Díaz announced that the union was not invited to the meetings with the Ministry of Transport and Public Works. According to him, only 30% of the transport sector has been considered to reach agreements, while 70% has been left out, such as the tourist transport sector, “for not being affiliated to unions,” he said.
She said that there are approximately 12 thousand families in the tourist transport sector that are affected, since it is their only means of subsistence. Luisa Angamarca confirmed the damage, and at the same time, she explained the needs of tourist transport, including public administrative security in the process of paperwork, licenses for companies and regularization of their vehicles.
There is also opposition to the rise in fuel prices in Ecuador’s heavy transport and urban transport sectors. Ángel Macías, from the union, denounced that in addition to the increase in VAT, the rise in prices means a double loss for the economy of heavy transport, which, on the other hand, is a victim of crime, since the service it provides begins in the early hours of the morning.
Washington Núñez, president of the Urban Transport Federation, said that this union is in danger of continuing to operate due to the targeting and increase in fuel prices.
During the debate, the members of the committee expressed their concern about the widespread statements made by transporters.
Legislator Lucía Posso questioned whether the compensation system is fruitful. In general terms, those present argued that it does not represent even 5% of operating expenses.
The Citizen Participation Commission promised to closely monitor this agreement with the IMF. “The measure worsens the fragile economy of Ecuadorians and what we want is a more prosperous and equitable Ecuador,” said Patricio Chávez, at the end of the session.