Month: August 2018

Sen. Bam Aquino to block TRAIN 2 anti-education provision

Sen. Bam Aquino has committed to block the removal of the 10-percent preferential tax rate for private non-profit schools under the proposed TRAIN 2. 

The senator believes that the removal of the 10-percent preferential tax rate will lead to increase in tuition and other fees. 

“Sa dulo, ang mga pamilyang nagpapaaral din ang papasan nito kaya tataas ang matrikula,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Nalulunod na nga sa taas presyo ng bilihin, tataas pa ang gastos sa eskuwela,” said Sen. Bam. “Maawa naman po kayo sa ating mga kababayan. Dagdag na pahirap na naman ito sa pamilyang Pilipino.” 

Currently, private non-profit proprietary educational institutions receive a preferential 10-percent income tax rate, together with non-profit hospitals, offshore banking units and regional operating headquarters. 

But under the TRAIN 2 proposal, these institutions may be taxed up to 25%, more than double their current rate, leaving them with less money to invest in quality education for their students. What’s more, this additional cost may result in higher tuition fees. 

Instead of working on TRAIN 2, Sen. Bam is appealing to Congress to address the gaps in TRAIN 1 and pass the Senate Bill No. 1798, or his “Bawas Presyo Bill”, which seeks to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

“Solusyunan at aksyunan na natin ang Bawas Presyo Bill upang bigyan ng ginhawa ang mga Pilipinong nalulunod sa taas-presyo,” said Sen. Bam. 

The senator said the immediate passage of the measure is necessary since another round of increase in the excise tax on fuel will happen on January 2019 under the TRAIN Law. 

“Huwag naman natin hayaan na itaas pa ng gobyerno ang presyo ng petrolyo habang nalulunod ang mga Pilipino sa gastos,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Sen. Bam: Tama na ang debate sa TRAIN, aksiyunan ang matinding inflation

The government must act now to ease the burden of high prices of goods and services on the Filipino people by immediately suspending the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 
 
Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after the country’s inflation rate hit 5.7 percent in July, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 
 
“Wala nang ihihigpit pa ang sinturon ng taumbayan. Sagad na sagad na po dahil sa mahal ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against ratification of the TRAIN Law. 
 
“Huwag na tayong magtalo kung gaano kalaki ang epekto ng TRAIN sa taas presyo. Utang na loob, pag-usapan na po natin ang solusyon,” said Sen. Bam, who is pushing for the passage of his “Bawas Presyo Bill. 
 
Sen. Bam’s measure seeks to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 
 
“Sobra na ang hirap ng taumbayan, tama na po ang debate. Gawin na natin ang nararapat para ibaba ang presyo sa lalong madaling panahon,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
During his consultation with various sectors in different parts of the country, the senator said has received complaints from different sectors, about the negative impact of the TRAIN Law on their livelihood. 
 
In Sen. Bam’s recent visit to Tagbilaran City, a representative from the senior citizens group said that the TRAIN Law is killing them softly and urged the senator to help put a stop to it. 
 
“Iyong TRAIN, parang hindi pinag-aralan. Walang konsultasyon sa baba, kasi kung meron sana hindi iyan natuloy,” said Oni Kalinyahan, a representative from the fisherfolk sector. 
 
“Hindi na kami natutulog para makapantay man lang sa gastusin,” the fisherman added.

Sen. Bam: Bawas Presyo Bill is safer fix to inflation vs. lower tariffs on meat, fish

Rather than impose lower tariffs on fish and meat to lower inflation, Sen. Bam Aquino said the government should focus on the suspension and roll back of excise tax on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Natutuwa tayo na tanggap na ng administrasyong na napakalaking problema ang mataas na inflation at presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 

“Subalit, sa planong bawasan ang taripa, baka ang ating mga magsasaka’t mangingisda ang tamaan dahil sa pagbaba ng presyo ng imported na karne at isda,” warned Sen. Bam. 

“Tulungan na lang ang ating mga kababayang magsasaka at mangingisda na mapababa ang cost of production para bumaba ang presyo ng kanilang produkto at lumaki ang kanilang kita,” suggested Sen. Bam, adding that productions cost has even gone up because of the price of petroleum and government’s excise tax on fuel. 

Sen. Bam stressed that solutions to inflation shouldn’t burden poor families, especially our farmers and fishermen who are already struggling to compete with imported goods. 

“Gusto natin solusyunan at aksiyunan ang taas-presyo, pero gawin natin ito na walang nasasagasaang magsasaka’t mangingisda. Ipasa na sana ng Kongreso ang Bawas Presyo Bill,” said Sen. Bam as he renewed his push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1798, or his “Bawas Presyo Bill.” 

Sen. Bam’s measure seeks to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

According to Sen. Bam, a roll-back of the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law could help bring down the prices of goods and services and the rise in inflation rate. It will also help lower expenses of farmers and fishermen. 

Sen. Bam warned that another round of increase in the excise tax on fuel will happen on January 2019 under the TRAIN Law. 

“Huwag naman natin hayaan na itaas pa ng gobyerno ang presyo ng petrolyo habang nalulunod ang mga Pilipino sa gastos,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Fulfill TRAIN’s promise to the poor

The government should fully implement the mitigating measures under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law first before even discussing the passage of TRAIN 2.

“Siguraduhin muna ng gobyerno na ang pinangakong tulong ng TRAIN 1 ay makuha ng mga Pilipino. May ilang milyong pamilya pa ang hindi nakatatanggap ng tulong pinansiyal, pati mga jeepney driver ay nirereklamo ang Pantawid Pasada Program,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

 The government has yet to complete the roll out of the unconditional cash transfer program and Pantawid Pasada Program, which should help jeepney operators and drivers cope with the increase in oil prices.

“Kung napakaraming pangako ang hindi natupad, bakit pa tayo maniniwala sa mga pangako ngayon? Magpakatotoo na tayo. Suspindihin na natin ang mga pahirap na buwis sa TRAIN,” said Sen. Bam, who filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the “Bawas Presyo Bill” to roll-back and suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when average inflation surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

“Sa pag-uusap namin iba’t ibang komunidad, napakarami ang naghahanap ng solusyon sa taas-presyo. Nalulunod na sila sa gastos,” said Sen. Bam.

On the push to pass TRAIN 2 in the Senate, Sen. Bam says he cannot move on to TRAIN 2 without addressing the issues of TRAIN 1.

  “Mahirap maka-move-on sa TRAIN 2 habang maraming Pilipino pa ang pinapahirapan ng TRAIN 1. Hindi pa naipapatupad ang mga programa para sa mga nasagasaan ng TRAIN,” added Sen. Bam.

 

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