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.
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