The Secretary of State maintained that raising the fuel tax is in the government program, “the one that Chileans voted for.” In addition, he reported that he will visit some regions to study the situation of public transport and collapses on the roads.
The Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Munozassured that is in favor of increasing fuel taxes; and he also referred to the possibility of implementing vehicle restrictions in some regions.
With regard to the latter, in these weeks two areas of the country have been particularly collapsed in road terms: the Gran Concepción and some points of Valparaíso.
Asked about this issue on Radio Futuro, Muñoz explained that the option of implementing the vehicle restriction would remain in the hands of the regional governors.
“My first approximation is allocate part of the road infrastructure to buses, so that they go faster”said.
He added that his plans include visiting parts of the country “because the public transport system in regions presents a very important gap with Santiago (…). We have to put an important focus, there is an effort to go looking for the way to be able to provide the regulatory framework that allows the systems to be intervened”.
Along the same lines, the head of Transport indicated that there are cities “where mass transportation has already disappeared” and that this is “worrying”.
“Part of my effort will be to visit regions to talk with local actors, because we cannot solve this with the eyes of Santiago,” he said.
Fuel tax hike
In the conversation with Radio Futuro, Muñoz stated that he was in favor of raising fuel taxes. “I don’t say it, the government program says it, the one that Chileans voted for”argument.
“The government program is written at a time when fuels were not at the value they are today, it is true, and the decision to increase or vary the price of fuels depends on (several) factors,” he added.
In the same context, he clarified that “it is not a decision that is made for nothing, I am only mentioning what the program says”.
However, the Secretary of State stated that “fuels in Chile have to present the price they really generate in social terms. There is an element that is very relevant, which is the congestion generated by driving. When I take the car, I emit emissions that generate costs in others”.
Finally, he argued that “these costs should be included in the price so that it is better for everyone and not better for some. I am in favor of increasing fuel taxes. Fuel taxes are low.