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Mr. Bui Van Quan, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Transport Association, said that the proposal to increase the BOT rate of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) is not appropriate and difficult to accept. Because currently, not only are BOT projects difficult, but almost all companies (companies) in all fields are also greatly affected by Covid-19.
Many transport companies are about to be at the limit
Analyzing the type of commercial transport vehicles, Mr. Bui Van Quan calculated the cost of a trip when traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and turned 8.4 million VND to pay BOT, representing approximately 30% of the total cost From the trip. Meanwhile, with the previous trip, the cost of fuel for a car trip also represents approximately 30%; then the types of wages for drivers, employees, road maintenance fees, social security, parking lots … While today, one of the many industries most affected by the disease is transportation. In case of increasing rates at BOT stations, companies will not be able to pay and face the risk of bankruptcy.
In closer analysis, the president of the Ho Chi Minh City Transportation Association also reported that transportation activities in many areas came to a complete halt in April to implement social isolation, some remaining activities, but also in a waiting state. resisted, tried to maintain. However, most of the entry costs for this activity have not decreased, making it more difficult.
Phu My Bridge Toll Station, a bridge between District 2 and District 7, one of the BOT projects in Ho Chi Minh City Photo: GIA MINH
“The price of gasoline has decreased significantly, but now it has increased again. But at the time of the fall in the price of gasoline, although it is a good condition for transport companies, it also means that transport costs have decreased. Meanwhile, most of the costs The entry fee that companies have to pay remains the same as BOT, road maintenance, social security, health care … rates for workers, and the cost of preventing Illnesses has also increased, while many fields “freeze” makes the car wait, further increasing the cost of parking, making it more difficult. Now, assuming the BOT rate increases, that is, the BOT company is saved, then I ask the opposite question: Who will save us? – Mr. Bui Van Quan pressing.
Accordingly, Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, president of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, said that the current transport industry faces many difficulties. If the increase in BOT rates will certainly increase transport costs, causing difficulties for transport companies. In particular, the cost of road use in transportation costs to a very high level. The increase in BOT rates will constitute the cost of transportation, will increase freight rates, will affect the price of import and export goods, as well as national goods and services, and the associated impact throughout society. That’s not good.
Meanwhile, after hearing the Ministry of Transportation’s proposal to increase fares through BOT stations, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong, who specializes in online seafood businesses; Her home in the Tan Phu district of Ho Chi Minh City has been in a hurry, because for the past few months, her business has been extremely wet. “The Covid-19 epidemic has affected the” pockets “of many people, so customers are no longer as generous as before. Now that the rate increases, the price will surely rise, making it difficult for consumers to consume. it can go back to the way it was before the Covid-19 epidemic “- Ms. Duong frankly analyzed and rejected MOT’s proposal. “Think of people like us first. Because we are the majority,” he said.
Extending the charging time is optimal
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen, to ensure harmony of interests, it is necessary to review all BOT toll stations. For BOT projects with a short payback period (around 7-12 years), there is no need to increase the fee; At the same time, there is no rate increase for high rate projects, although there is a roadmap for increasing rates. The State only considers adjustments to the seasons with a long payback period of approximately 20 years. As for projects with low levels of fees compared to common ground, they should consider and consider carefully.
According to economist Ngo Tri Long, the Covid-19 epidemic occurred randomly, no one predicted. In this context, the economic recession causes all companies in almost all fields to face difficulties, including BOT investors. However, the two options proposed by the Ministry of Transport were difficult for the Government to choose.
Specifically, the plan to increase according to the roadmap is not adequate, because after a period of dealing with the epidemic, the economy started to recover and the government is trying to cut 20% -50% of tariffs and charges. Companies stand up, now the rate increase table is against policy.
The use of compensatory budgets is also inappropriate, since state resources are limited, especially in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic, money must be spent on other expenses to recover the economy. If the increase according to the roadmap will be safe for BOT investors but affects other companies, especially transport companies, the government should consider this carefully.
Since then, Mr. Ngo Tri Long said that the optimal option is that the Ministry of Transport should negotiate with the BOT investor to extend the toll collection time. Along with that, consider restructuring the repayment term and maintaining the debt pool for BOT projects. “I think this is the most harmonious plan at the moment because the government also has policies to support companies, like tax deferment / deferment, preferential credit policies that BOT investors are also subject to. This” – El Associate Professor Ngo Tri Long stated the point.
If the tariff rises further, the price will surely increase, making it difficult to return to consumer consumption before the Covid-19 outbreak. ”
It must be for everything!
According to data from the Ministry of Transport, currently 58/60 BOT projects have lower real incomes than the income foreseen in the financial plan, of which 17 real income projects have not reached 50%. Furthermore, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the volume of transport fell sharply, especially during the social gap, making it more difficult for these companies.
Since seeing the difficulties of BOT companies is real, perhaps everyone can easily see. Finding ways to eliminate difficulties for companies is necessary and everyone is sure to agree. However, the solution given must necessarily be comprehensive.
First of all, do you remember that BOT companies are having difficulties but trying to ask if there are companies that are not having difficulties when the economy is falling into recession due to epidemics? Remember, in recent years, BOT companies have also charged fees for freight, but passenger carriers have nearly stopped working and are almost on the verge of bankruptcy. Now also making them pay a higher BOT fee is like putting heavy stones on the back of people struggling to drown.
Secondly, the increase in BOT fares affects not only passenger transport companies, but also negatively affects many other companies and this is well known because in the Covid-19 pandemic, it is easy to see that The “demand” “The market is very low. Therefore, during this period, the increase in the prices of any type of goods or services is very difficult to be accepted by the market. That is why our Government, like the Governments of all countries in the world must have stimulus programs to revive the economy. The evidence is that the Government is calling on Vietnam Electricity and many other companies to reduce prices to stimulate demand and guarantee social security. Proposal to increase BOT rates to try to ask is extremely immoral, contrary to what the country is trying to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic or not.
In my opinion, helping BOT companies to overcome difficulties can be reasonable if it is done within the framework of two fiscal and monetary policy packages implemented by the Government. That is, in the tax policy package, it is necessary to consider the exemption / reduction / extension of taxes and fees for BOT companies. In the monetary policy package, it may be necessary to consider lowering interest rates, postponing / reducing debt, or restructuring the debt of these businesses.
The most urgent need is to have a solution to save the economy, because when the economy recovers and grows strongly, the volume of traffic will increase, so BOT companies will surely have a more abundant source of income. So please know everything!
Nguyen Si Dung
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