Bawas Presyo

Sen. Bam thanks government for fuel tax suspension, appeals for complete repeal of TRAIN Law tax on petroleum

Sen. Bam Aquino lauded the government for listening to the people’s plea and suspending the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, saying this could lead to its eventual removal.
 
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Presidente at sa kanyang economic managers sa pag-aksyon sa isyu na matagal nang daing ng mga pamilyang nahihirapan sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
“Ito’y tagumpay ng mga Pilipinong matagal nang humihiling ng tulong sa matinding pagtaas ng presyo,” added Sen. Bam, who has been calling for the suspension and roll-back of TRAIN Law’s tax on fuel since May this year.
 
Sen. Bam made the reaction after Budget Sec. Ben Diokno announced that the government will suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law in 2019.
 
Sen. Bam hopes that the government’s move is an indication of its willingness to eventually remove the all of the excise tax on fuel under its tax reform program, which could lead to lower prices of food and other goods.
 
“Mahalaga po itong suspension ng dagdag-buwis sa Enero, pero mahalaga rin tanggalin ang buwis na nakapataw na sa ngayon. Kailangan pa ring tugunan ang problema ng mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa mahal na presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Despite this development, Sen. Bam is determined to push for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill, which he filed last May.
 
The measure attempts to change and fix the TRAIN Law by ensuring the suspension and rollback of fuel tax once the country’s inflation rate is too high.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Don’t sacrifice children’s welfare for revenue

Alarmed by report that children’s nutrition is affected by inflation and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that their health should be prioritized over government revenue.

“Nakakabahala na mga bata ang pinakatinding tinamaan ng TRAIN Law at mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, referring to a report by Ateneo de Manila University researchers that Filipino children were deprived of needed nutrients due to high inflation from February to September.

“Huwag ipagpalit sa dagdag na buwis ang kalusugan ng ating mga anak,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Reiterating his willingness to work with the government to lower prices of food and other goods, Sen. Bam said there is an urgent need to suspend and roll back of the excise tax on petroleum products imposed by the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam submitted Senate Bill No. 1798 or the “Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill” last May to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law and roll it back to December 31, 2017 levels.

The only measure in the Senate that seeks to amend the TRAIN Law, Senate Bill No. 1798 aims to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate surpasses the government’s inflation target for three consecutive months.

Furthermore, Sen. Bam said the government should ramp up the rollout of the social mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pasada Program and even the 10-percent discount on NFA rice.

Sen. Bam also called on the government to fully implement Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansiyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which aims to eradicate hunger and undernutrition by providing free nutritious meals to public day care, kindergarten and elementary school students.

Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of the measure as principal sponsor and co-author during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Ibasura na ang buwis sa petrolyo!

Sen. Bam Aquino urged the government to support initiatives that aim to stop excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, saying time is running out as lawmakers have just 15 session days remaining for 2018.

“Wala nang panahon. 47 days na lang ay Pasko na at mayrooon na lang labing-limang session days para maisulong ang ating panukala, pati na ang resolusyon ng minorya at sulat ng mayorya ukol sa pag-alis ng excise tax sa petrolyo,” said Sen. Bam.

“Nagkakaisa ang Senado sa hangaring mapababa ang presyo ng petrolyo at bilihin para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan na nahihirapan na sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May while minority senators filed Joint Resolution No. 15 calling for the suspension and rollback of excise tax on fuel. Majority lawmakers, for their part, wrote President Duterte asking to suspend excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law.

Congress will resume session on Monday (Nov 12), and will end its session on Dec. 12 (Wednesday).

“Bigyan natin ng konting ginhawa ang mga mahihirap na nalulunod sa taas presyo,” Sen. Bam emphasized, adding that suspending excise tax on fuel under TRAIN Law is the best Christmas gift that the government can give to the Filipino people.

“Pamasko niyo na po sa mahihirap ang pagtanggal ng TRAIN sa petrolyo. Galaw-galaw na po, magpa-Pasko na,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

The only measure in the Senate that seeks to amend the TRAIN Law, Senate Bill No. 1798 aims to add a safeguard to ensure the suspension in the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate surpasses the government’s inflation target for three consecutive months.

According to Sen. Bam, removing the excise tax on fuel would not only bring down prices of fuel, but also prices of fares, food and other goods in the market.

Sen. Bam added that removing the excise tax on petroleum would translate to additional P87 per day income for public utility drivers (PUV), which they can use to purchase two kilos of rice for their family.

Sen. Bam urges Congress to work together on Bawas Presyo Bill as inflation remains high

With inflation unchanged and still beyond the projected target range, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that government must work together to help Filipinos still suffering from high prices of food and other goods.

“Mataas pa rin ang presyo at umaaray pa din and mga pamilyang Pilipino. Bigyan natin sila ng kahit kaunting ginhawa ngayong Pasko,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Magtulungan na tayo upang suspindihin at i-rollback ang buwis sa petrolyo. Ipasa na natin sa Kongreso ang Bawas Presyo Bill at ayusin ang TRAIN Law,” added Sen. Bam who filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May.

Sen. Bam renewed his call to the government to support his measure, which he believes could help lower prices of petroleum products and the prices of goods in the market.

“Pinagtulungan na natin noon ang batas na libreng kolehiyo. Ngayon, itong Bawas Presyo Bill naman sana ang Christmas gift natin sa ating mga kababayan,” urged Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill 1798 is the only measure in the Senate that seeks to amend the TRAIN Law. If passed, it will add a safeguard to ensure the suspension in the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate surpasses the government’s inflation target for three consecutive months.

The senator said that reducing the cost of petroleum products would not only affect fare prices but would also have an indirect effect on the prices of food and other goods in the market.

Also, Sen. Bam added that removing the excise tax on petroleum would translate to additional P87 per day income for public utility drivers (PUV), which they can use to purchase two kilos of rice for their family.

Sen. Bam: Pass Bawas Presyo Bill, fix TRAIN Law on top of wage increase

The P25 salary increase for National Capital Region (NCR) cannot stand alone and should be coupled with efforts to lower prices of goods, including the suspension of excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 
 
“Parehong dagdag kita at bawas presyo ang kailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Bigyan natin ng sapat na ginhawa ang mga Pilipinong nalulunod sa pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain, bigas at iba pang bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 
 
“Gawing prayoridad na sana ng Kongreso ang pagpasa sa Bawas Presyo Bill para maayos naman kahit kaunti ang TRAIN Law at mabawasan ang pasan ng Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, who is the only senator to file a measure seeking to amend the TRAIN Law. 
 
Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018 to add a safeguard to the TRAIN Law that allows for the suspension in the collection of excise tax on fuel should the inflation rate surpass the country’s predicted target for three consecutive months. 
 
“Kung ipasa ang Bawas Presyo Bill at tanggalin ang excise tax sa petrolyo sa TRAIN Law, hanggang P87 kada araw ang dagdag sa kita ng ating mga jeepney driver,” said Sen. Bam, adding that this would be enough for PUV drivers to buy two kilos of rice per day for their families. 
 
Sen. Bam also said that reducing the cost of petroleum products would not only affect fare prices but would also have an indirect effect on the prices of food and other goods in the market. 
 
“Magandang regalo ngayong Pasko ang tulong sa pagbababa ng presyo ng bilihin. Kaya itutuloy ko sa Senado ang paninindigan para sa Bawas Presyo Bill upang ayusin ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, who continues to stand by his no-vote on the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam: Additional 87 pesos per day for jeepney drivers if TRAIN excise tax is repealed

Sen. Bam Aquino stands by his “No” vote on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, continuing to push for the repeal of the excise tax on fuel for the benefit of drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) and commuters.

“Hindi sapat ang suspension. Lubusin na natin ang pagtanggal ng excise tax sa petrolyo ng TRAIN Law. Nalulunod na sa taas presyo ang mga Pilipino, lalo na ang mga driver ng mga jeep, tricycle at iba pang PUV,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of TRAIN Law.

“Kung tatanggalin ang excise tax sa petrolyo sa TRAIN Law, hanggang P87 kada araw ang dagdag sa kita ng ating mga jeepney driver,” added Sen. Bam.

The added income is enough for PUV drivers to buy two kilos of rice per day for their families, Sen. Bam pointed out.

Since May 2018, Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law through his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill.

The measure aims to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, the bill also seeks to roll back the excise tax on petroleum products to December 31, 2017 levels or before the TRAIN Law was implemented.

Sen. Bam also joined other minority senators — Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon and Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes and Leila de Lima – in filing Senate Joint Resolution No. 15, which seeks to suspend the excise tax under the TRAIN Law and mandate the rollback of levy on fuel to December 31, 2017 rates.

 

Sen. Bam: Excise tax suspension is a win for Filipinos, illustrates value of independent voice

The government’s plan to remove the excise tax on petroleum products in January 2019 is a win for Filipinos and an indication of the importance of having an independent voice in government, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 

“Panalo ang pamilyang Pilipino sa pagsuspindi ng dagdag buwis sa gasolina, diesel at iba pang produktong petrolyo sa Enero,” said Sen. Bam, who has been pushing for the suspension of excise tax since May 2018. 

“Patunay din ito sa halaga ng pagkakaroon ng magkakaibang boses sa gobyerno – pati na ang minorya o oposisyon. Mahalagang pakinggan ang iba’t ibang panig na mayroong solusyon sa problema ng bayan,” added Sen. Bam, referring to his call for suspension and rollback of the TRAIN Law despite the hardline defense of the administration’s economic managers. 

Sen. Bam stressed that there’s more to be done as he reiterated his push to rollback the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law to December 31, 2017 rates. 

“Magandang unang hakbang ito. Pero kailangan nang aksyunan ang Step 2 – tuluyan na nating alisin ang buong excise tax sa petrolyo na pinataw ng TRAIN Law. Ipasa na ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill at joint resolusyon ng Minority Bloc,” stressed Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program. 

On May 10, 2018, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill, seeking to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

Sen. Bam’s measure also seeks to rollback the excise tax on petroleum products to December 31, 2017 levels or before the TRAIN Law was implemented. 

In addition, Sen. Bam and other minority senators — Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon and Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes and Leila de Lima — submitted Senate Joint Resolution No. 15 seeking to suspend the excise tax under the TRAIN Law and mandate the rollback of levy on fuel to December 31, 2017 rates. 

In their resolution, the minority senators urged their fellow lawmakers to support their initiative to alleviate the plight of Filipinos, especially the poor. 

“Magtulungan na tayo’t magtrabaho para lutasin ang krisis sa presyo at bigyan ng ginhawa ang mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa gastos,” said Sen. Bam, who also delivered three privilege speeches on the negative effects of TRAIN Law and excise tax on fuel.

Sen. Bam: Senate must act now, roll-back excise tax on fuel before Christmas

The increase in self-rated poverty is yet another indication that the Senate should move on legislative action to address rising prices of food and other goods by suspending the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Kailangan na natin umaksyon. Solusyunan natin ang krisis sa presyo para tulungan ang mga naghihirap na pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, who has been pushing for the passage of the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in the Senate.

In its third quarter survey, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) noted an increase in self-rated poverty in September to 52 percent or 12.2 million families. This is four points higher than the 48 percent or 11.1 million families in June 2018.

Sen. Bam urged colleagues to support the minority’s Joint Senate Resolution No. 15, which aims to suspend the excise tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and rollback the tax on fuel to December 31, 2017 rates.

“Huwag na nating antayin na ma-certify urgent ito. Umaksyon na po tayo nang kusa. Kung kailangang mag-special session tayo sa Senado habang may session break, gawin na po natin ito,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said a collective action of the Senate will send a clear message to Malacanang on the stand of the Upper Chamber to ease the burden of Filipinos, especially the poor, from the high prices of food and other goods.

 “This is a chance to show in word and in action that the Senate wishes to ease the burden of our countrymen and remove the excise tax on petroleum products,” stressed Sen. Bam.

 “Seventy four days na lang po, Pasko na!  Ito na siguro ang pinakamagandang regalo na maibibigay natin sa pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

On Wednesday, minority senators – composed of Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon and Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes, Leila de Lima and Sen. Bam — submitted Senate Joint Resolution No. 15.

In their joint resolution, the minority senators stressed the need for the urgent intervention of the Congress of the Philippines to mitigate the inflationary effects of rising fuel prices by suspending the increases in excise tax on fuel under RA No. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

For his part, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill as early as May 10, 2018, seeking to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam’s privilege speech on gas prices and suspending TRAIN’s excise tax on petroleum products

Good afternoon, Mr. President, dear colleagues!
 
In the past few months, I’ve been meeting many of our students, tricycle drivers, fishermen, market vendors, farmers and seniors to hear their stories and how the government’s policies have affected them over the past months.
 
Sa pag-iikot ko pong ito, mas lumalim ang aking kaalaman sa mga pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan at mas nakikilala ko po ang mga kababayang nating gusto nating matulungan.
 
Tulad ni Ate Lucille na nagtitinda ng gulay sa Tanauan City. Pati raw mga suki niya, nagrereklamo na sa mahal ng bilihin. Sabi pa niya: “Minsan, hindi na nabebenta at nabubulok na lang ang paninda naming gulay.”
 
Tulad po ni Mang Boyong, isang tricycle driver sa Tondo, na pinapaalala sa atin na malaking bagay sa mga tricycle driver tulad niya ang pag-angat ng dalawang piso kada litro ng gasolina.
 
Ang sabi ni Mang Boyong: “Tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina. Sa paghahanap buhay ko hindi na kami nakakaahon sa kahirapan.”
 
Tulad ni Lola Diding na isang senior citizen sa Zamboanga City na nagsabing: “Sa tanda kong ito, umuutang pa rin ako. Pero kahit ayaw na ng katawan ko, babangon at babangon pa rin ako para tulungan ang pamilya.
 
Matinding paghihirap at matindi ring pagsisikap ang dinaranas po ng ating mga kababayan. Lahat po sila, ramdam na ramdam ang matinding pagtaas ng presyo.
 
—
 
Mr. President, dear colleagues, in the past few months, I have stood before you to echo these stories and to propose solutions to this painful price crisis so that our countrymen can find some relief from our sky-high inflation.
 
In the past, I’ve mentioned three actionable solutions:
 
First, to address the rice crisis by appointing effective leadership in the NFA and maintaining our 15-day buffer stock.
 
Second, immediately complete the roll-out of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer program and the pantawid pasada program, and ensure the financial help will cover the needs of poor Filipino families.
 
Third is to roll-back and suspend TRAIN’s excise tax on petroleum products.
 
Dear colleagues, even as we were debating the TRAIN Law last year, we were already concerned about the inflationary effects of taxing petroleum and increasing the price of fuel.
 
The next scheduled increase in the excise tax on petroleum is in January – in 3 months. Under the TRAIN Law, there will be an increase of another 2 pesos per liter for diesel and gasoline, and another 1 peso for kerosene.
 
My fellow senators were so concerned about the excise tax on fuel and its effect on the prices of goods that the principal sponsor, Sen. Angara, even agreed to include my proposed safeguards to the Department of Finance.
 
We thank Sen. Angara for graciously including these safeguards, he even called it Aquino Amendment, in the interpellations. And these were included in the final Senate version of the TRAIN Law.
 
Dalawa po ang safeguards na isinama natin at inasahan nating magsisilbing proteksyon: una – base sa pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo sa world market; at pangalawa – base po sa inflation.
 
Ito po specifically, ang final version ng panukala dito sa Senate version, and I quote:
 
“For the period covering 2018 to 2020, the scheduled increase in the excise tax on fuel as imposed in this section shall be suspended when any of the following conditions have been met:
 
One, the average Dubai Crude Oil Price for the first fifteen days of the month based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) reaches or exceeds eighty dollars per barrel cost, insurance, and freight (CIF); or
 
Two, when the inflation rate exceeds the higher end of the annual inflation target range set by the DBCC or the Development Budget and Coordination Committee and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).”
 
Pinagbotohan po natin ang mga probisiyong ito. Pasado po ito sa Senado. Wala pong tumutol.
 
Ngayon, Mr. President, pagkatapos ng pagpupulong ng bicameral conference committee, nag-iba ang mga safeguard na ito. Ito naman po ang final version ng TRAIN Law:
 
“For the period covering 2018 to 2020, the scheduled increase in the excise tax on fuel as imposed in this section shall be suspended when the average Dubai crude oil price based on Mean Of Platts Singapore or MOPS for three (3) months prior to the scheduled increase of the month reaches or exceeds eighty dollars (USD 80) per barrel.”
 
Alam ho natin, matagal ko nang sinasabi, nawala ang safeguard based on inflation. 
 
—
 
At ang nawalang safeguard na ito ang pinagbasihan ng inihain naming Senate Bill Number 1798 o tinatawag nating Bawas Presyo Bill. 
 
Iyan po ang lagi nating binabanggit sa ating kapulungan at hindi pa rin po ako nawawalan ng pag-asa na ipapasa po natin ang panukalang ito sa lalong madaling panahon.
 
—
 
Pero ang naisamang safeguard sa final version ng TRAIN Law ay ang safeguard ukol sa presyo ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Sa probisyong ito ng batas, ititigil po ang dagdag buwis sa petrolyo sa Enero kung umabot o lumampas ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo sa 80 dollars per barrel for three preceding months.
 
Alam ho natin na January 1 ang buwan ng pagtaas. Three preceding months begins this October. 
 
To be honest, the specific amount of 80 dollars per barrel did not come from this representation, it actually came from the Department of Finance; sila po ang nagtalaga ng presyong iyan. 
 
To be very specific again, noong panahon pong pinagbotohan natin ang TRAIN Law, ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo ay 55 dollars per barrel. Palagay ko hindi inasahan talaga na aabot sa 80 dollars per barrel ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Mr. President, world crude oil price based on MOPS first breached 80 U.S. dollars per barrel last September 27, when it 80.40 U.S. dollars per barrel. 
 
Yesterday, Mr. President, world crude oil price based on MOPS was at 80.80 U.S.D. per barrel.
 
Some of the oil industry experts that we have consulted with have said that this price is likely to go higher in the next three months, and will only drop sometime next year.
 
Kung ganito po ang mangyayari, meron pong mandato ang gobyerno na itigil ang pagtaas ng excise tax sa petrolyo ngayong 2019.
 
Klaro po iyan sa ating batas! Nasa final version po iyan ng TRAIN Law.
 
Ngunit mga kaibigan, ang hindi po klaro ay ang proseso at pamamaraan ng pagsuspinde nito.
 
Mr. President, pagdating sa Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), hindi napaghandaan ang proseso ng suspensyong ito.
 
Kung makikita po ang buong probisyon, makikita nating mayroong dalawang provided. 
 
Provided, That the Department of Finance shall perform an annual review of the implementation of the excise tax on fuel and shall, based on projections provided and recommendations of the Development Budget Coordination Committee, as reconciled from the conditions as provided above, recommend the implementation or suspension of the excise tax on fuel: Provided, further, That the recommendation shall be given on a yearly basis.
 
Meron po tinutukoy na annual review ng Department of Finance at ng DBCC. 
 
Ang tanong, kalian po gagawin ang review na ito? Ano ang batayan ng grupong ito sa kanilang posibleng pagsuspinde sa parating na dagdag na excise tax sa ating mga petroleum products. 
 
Kung ako ang tatanungin, mas gugustuhin ko na automatic dapat ang suspension ng dagdag na excise tax on fuel. Ibig sabihin niyan, pag umabot ng tatlong buwan at lampas sa 80 dollars per barrel ang presyo ng krudo, dapat po automatic suspension na iyan.
 
Ngunit iyong final version ng TRAIN, mayroong nakalagay na dalawang provided. Provided that there is an annual review, provided that this recommendation shall be given on a yearly basis.
 
Iyong tanong natin, na sana matulungan tayo ng Senado upang iklaro ito, para sa atin dito sa mga mambabatas, at para sa publiko. Kailan gagawin ang annual review na ito, ano ang basehan ng kanilang recommendation. Ito ba’y simpleng nag-breach na sa 80 dollars per barrel for three months. Alam ko po, nababasa ko sa pahayagan, marami na sa atin dito ang nagsabing kapag umabot na sa 80 dollars per barrel, kapag nag-average out na ng tatlong buwan ang 80 dollars per barrel ng crude oil, kailangan isuspinde ang pagtaas ng buwis ngayong January 1.
 
Ang hinihiling natin, konting kasiguraduhan, konting kalinawan, pagiging clear kung ano ang patakaran dito sa suspension na nakalagay sa TRAIN Law.
 
Para sa mga mambabatas, para sa akin, na siya pong nagmungkahi sa mga safeguard na ito, dapat automatic ang pagsuspinde ng pagtaas ng buwis kung lumampas na sa 80 dollars per barrel ang average price for three months ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Ang mahirap po ay kung umabot tayo ditto sa nakasaad na batayan sa batas pero dahil walang review o dahil walang recommendation ng administrasyon, hindi itutuloy ang pagsuspinde nitong pagtaas ng excise tax na alam naman nating nagpapabigat sa kalagayan ng napakarami nating mga kababayan.
 
The Senate must call on the DOF to issue clear and actionable guidelines, timelines, rules and regulations on how the suspension can possibly work.
 
Alam po natin na ang basehan dito, October, November, December na mga buwan ng presyo ng krudo sa mundo. Alam din natin na mayroong annual review, alam nating January 1 ang araw ng pagtaas ng excise tax. Ibig sabihin iyan, in these next three months, habang binabantayan natin ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo, kailangan po matuloy ang annual review, kailangan maging malinaw iyong rekomendasyon ng DOF at ng DBCC dito po sa January 1 increase.
 
Hindi pa po natin pinag-uusapan kung itong increase na ito, ay kung ma-delay man o ma-suspend, ay babalik ba o hindi.
 
There’s very, very short time here Mr. President. Napakaikli po ng panahon natin dito. Tatlong buwan na lang po, habang binabantayan ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo, kailangan na nating malaman paano ba gagawin ang annual review na ito at kung ano ba ang maging batayan ng kanilang recommendation for suspension or not.
 
Mr. President, it is incumbent upon this body to find out how and when this excise tax may be suspended.
 
There are many questions, dear colleagues, that we need to find clear answers to. We want answers to be clear and on the record.
 
What we can provide through a proper Senate hearing is clarity. But to be frank, Mr. President, what the Filipino people need is hope.
—
 
Mr. President, marami sa mga kababayan nating nagsasabi po paano na bukas? 
 
Iyan ang tanong ng marami nating kababayan. Dahil araw-araw na po naghihirap ang mga Pilipino dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng pamasahe, bigas, pagkain, kuryente, at iba pang mga bilihin.
 
Ang tanong po: sa panaginip lang ba natin mabibigyan ng solusyon ang mga problemang ito?
 
Hanggang panaginip lang po ba ang ginhawang inaasam ng mga pamilyang Pilipino? At pagkagising naman, makikita nila na 60 pesos per liter na ang gasolina.
 
Hindi naman po sana. Bigyan po natin sila ng pag-asa.
 
Noon naman, kung ating pong maaalala, panaginip lang din po ang gawing libre ang edukasyon sa kolehiyo.
 
Ngunit noong tayo’y naging pursigido at noong tayo’y nagtulungan sa Senado, sa Kongreso, sa buong gobyerno, naisabatas po natin at naipatupad ang R.A. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
I will always consider it a great honor to have worked on this law for free college education as its principal sponsor here in the Senate.
 
But more than an accomplishment, that victory taught me what possibilities are possible when we decide to work together and get things done for our people.
 
Ang pagpasa po natin sa batas para sa libreng kolehiyo, patunay na kapag nagtutulungan ang mga Pilipino, kapag tayo inuuna ang pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa at hindi pulitika, nananalo po ang sambayanang Pilipino.
 
Ngayon po, ang hamon sa atin, ito pong suspension ng pagtaas ng buwis ngayong Enero. Pagtulungan po natin ang suspension ng buwis sa petrolyo. Kung hindi man po ipapasa ang Bawas Presyo Bill o isang safeguard dahil sa inflation, siguraduhin naman natin na iyong nasa batas na ay maayos po ang pagpapatupad. At iyon po ang safeguards na mahahanap natin base sa presyo ng krudo sa mundo na nandoon naman sa TRAIN Law ngayon.
 
Let’s make sure that this safeguard is properly implemented, that this safeguard is properly appreciated.  And I hope the Senate, maybe a hearing or maybe the budget process, can clarify paano ba i-implement itong safeguard na ito at paano po ba ito puwedeng magawa para sa ating mga kababayan.
 
Maraming salamat Mr. President, thank you very much to our colleagues.

Sen. Bam: Admin, opposition should plot together to suspend excise tax on gasoline

Sen. Bam Aquino emphasized that the government and the opposition should plot together to suspend the excise tax on gasoline and address the high prices of food and other products. 

“Instead of pointing fingers, let’s work together to suspend the additional tax on fuel scheduled for January 2019,” said Sen. Bam in reaction to Malacanang’s repeated claims that members of the LP are plotting to oust President Duterte. 

Instead of focusing on silencing the opposition, Sen. Bam insisted that the government should immediately address the problems at hand, such as high prices of food and rice and lack of job opportunities. 

“Hindi makakatulong sa mga Pilipino ang away at gulo. Magtulungan na lang tayo para arestuhin ang taas-presyo. Simulan natin sa pagsuspindi ng dagdag buwis sa petrolyo,” said Sen. Bam. 

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the government to suspend the additional P2 excise tax on petroleum products in January 2019 if prices of oil in the global market remain at $80 per barrel in the next three months, as directed by a safeguard in the TRAIN Law. 

Sen. Bam is also pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill, which will suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

Sen. Bam has passed a total of 27 laws, 10 as a member of the opposition. He helped the administration pass the landmark law making college education free in public universities and colleges. He is the principal sponsor of R.A. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

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