Reducing prices of petroleum products and goods is the best Valentine’s Day gift to Filipinos burdened by high prices of food and other goods due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Ang pinakamagandang regalo sa taumbayan ngayong Valentine’s Day ay bawas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, who filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May 2018 to help lower prices of petroleum products and other goods.

“Masakit ang puso ng maraming Pilipino dahil nalulunod pa rin sa taas-presyo ang taumbayan lalo na ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

The price of galunggong rose from P130 per kilo in December 2017 to P200 per kilo in December 2018 before slightly dropping to P180 per kilo as of February 7. Sardines rose from P15 in December 2017 to P17.50 in December 2018 up to present.

Prices of bangus increased from P130 per kilo in December 2017 to P200 per kilo in December 2018 before dropping to P180 per kilo early this month while pork went up from P200 per kilo in December 2017 to P220 per kilo in December 2018 up to present.

“Nakaka-heartbreak pong malaman na nananatili pa ring mataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin tulad ng sardinas at baboy. Kailangan pong ipaalala na sa gobyerno na hindi parin bumababa ang presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam warned that Filipinos will be in for a tougher time with the increasing prices of petroleum products and electricity.

“Kailangan na nating kumilos upang matugunan ang serye ng pagtaas na ito. Panahon na upang ipasa ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill na matagal na nating isinusulong upang mabigyan ng ginhawa ang ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam’s measure seeks to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.