Pantawid Pasada Program

Sen. Bam: Admin, opposition should come together for Bawas Presyo Bill

Amid a fresh round of increase in fuel prices, Sen. Bam Aquino renewed his push for the passage of his measure to stop the excise tax on oil products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Sen. Bam insisted that the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on fuel would help alleviate the continuing rise in fuel prices and lower the prices of goods and services.

“Narito ang solusyon, aksyunan na natin. Kailangan magtulungan ang oposisyon at administrasyon para pababain ang presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

The senator filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the 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.

Sen. Bam said there is a pressing need to enact his measure into law as there is a scheduled second round of increase in excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam said the woes on high prices of goods and services will continue if the government continues to ignore the plea of the Filipino people, especially the poor.

“Nalulunod na nga sa taas presyo ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan, ito na naman ang panibagong pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo,” said Sen. Bam.

“Huwag maging manhid sa paulit-ulit na daing ng mahihirap na pamilya. Hindi po masosolusyanan ang problemang ito kung hindi tayo magtutulungan,” the senator added.

Also, Sen. Bam renewed his call for the government to fully roll out the social mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program for poor Filipino families and the Pantawid Pasada Program, which aims to help jeepney operators and drivers cope with the increase in oil prices.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Tulungan mag-modernize, huwag i-“phase out” ang kabuhayan ng mga jeepney driver

If the government is serious in modernizing public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in the country, Sen. Bam Aquino said it should provide affordable terms for the operators to avail of modern jeepneys. 
 
“Seryoso ba kayo sa jeepney modernization o gusto niyo ba silang i-phase out?”, asked Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Public Services.
 
Based on his consultations with jeepney drivers and operators in various areas, Sen. Bam said he received complaints about the steep terms of payment for the modern jeepney. 
 
“Gustong mag-modernize at umasenso ng mga jeepney driver. Tulungan natin sila,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
Sen. Bam urged transport officials to look into lowering the interest and extending the term period so that payments can be equivalent to the daily boundary of jeepney drivers. Different transport organizations present during the hearing supported Sen. Bam’s proposal. 
 
“Kung hindi natin itatapat ang offer ng gobyerno sa kanilang boundary, mawawalan ng kabuhayan ang mahihirap na Pilipino at baka malaking kumpanya pa ang pumalit at makinabang,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
“Suporta at hindi pahirap ang kailangan ng taumbayan, lalo na ang mga mahihirap na nalulunod na sa taas ng presyo ng petrolyo,” stressed Sen. Bam. 
 
Sen. Bam has been pushing for the quick implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program and its expansion to other modes of transport like tricycles and UV Express vans. He also filed the Bawas Presyo Bill to roll-back and suspend TRAIN’s excise tax of petroleum products.

Sen. Bam: Unahin ang Pilipinong nalulunod sa taas presyo, suspindihin na ang TRAIN Law

Senator Bam Aquino asked the government to focus on the welfare of the Filipino people rather than think about revenue from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Hindi kayang tumbasan ng kita ng gobyerno sa TRAIN ang hirap ng taumbayan na nalulunod sa taas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program. 

“Ang malala pa rito, huli na at kulang pa ang tulong ng gobyerno para sa mga mahihirap na sinasagasaan ng TRAIN Law,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the mitigating measures under the tax reform law like the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program and the Pantawid Pasada Program.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement in reaction to the government’s claim that it stands to lose P102 billion in 2019 if Sen. Bam’s measure that aims to suspend excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law is enacted into law. 

Under Sen. Bam’s measure, the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law will be suspended and rolled back when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

Sen. Bam also stated that the government has enough funds for its priority programs and projects as it has P390 billion in untouched budget in 2017. 

“Sapat ang pondo ng gobyerno, aabot pa nga sa P390 bilyon ang hindi nila nagamit noong nakaraang taon. Huwag naman natin pahirapan pa ang mga pamilyang sumasaklolo sa taas-presyo,” the senator urged. 

“Suportahan sana ng administrasyon ang pag-roll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo at siguraduhing sususpindihin ang dagdag na buwis sa petrolyo sa 2019 dahil sa TRAIN,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Madaliin na ang tulong para sa mga jeepney driver

Senator Bam Aquino urged the government to immediately release the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Pantawid Pasada Program and ensure that the assistance will go directly to jeepney drivers. 

“Ang pagpapatupad ng Pantawid Pasada Program ang dapat madaliin ng gobyerno. Kailangan na ng mga drayber ng jeepn ang tulong kontra taas-presyo.,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the IRR should be released as soon as possible. 

“Sa IRR, dapat unahin ang kapakanan ng jeepney drivers na nalulunod na sa taas ng presyo ng krudo,” added Sen. Bam. 

The Pantawid Pasada Program gives jeepney operators and drivers a total of P5,000 for the last six months of 2018. This will mean an additional P833 per month or P27.7 per day. 

Earlier, Sen. Bam urged the government to review the program to ensure the amount given to jeepney drivers is enough to cover the increase in fuel prices and other needs due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Hindi pa sapat ang tulong ng Pantawid Pasada Program dahil wala pang isang litro ng diesel ang bigay nito sa ating mga jeepney driver. Kulang na nga, hindi pa nila ma-roll-out agad-agad,” said Sen. Bam. 

The senator also reiterated his call to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expand the Pantawid Pasada Program to other modes of public transportations such as tricycles and UV express vehicles. 

“Kung tutulong na rin lang tayo, bakit hindi pa natin lubus-lubusin at isama ang mga nagmamaneho ng tricycle at UV Express,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to help lower the prices of fuel and goods at the same time. 

Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to stop and rollback the excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

“Suportahan sana ng administrasyong and pag-roll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo at siguraduhing sususpindihin ang dagdag na buwis sa petrolyo sa 2019 dahil sa TRAIN,” stressed Sen. Bam. 

“Nalulunod na sa taas presyo ang mga drayber. Nababawasan na nga ang kita, tumataas pa ang presyo ng bilihin,” he added.

Sen. Bam: Itodo na ang tulong sa transport sector

Senator Bam Aquino lamented the government’s insufficient and late support for the transport sector, saying the Pantawid Pasada Program should be reviewed if it’s enough to cover the increase in fuel prices and other needs of jeepney drivers. 

“Atrasado na nga ang tulong, kulang pa ang ibibigay ng gobyerno sa mga tsuper ng pampasaherong jeep,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the July implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program, a mitigating measure under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Under the Pantawid Pasada Program, a total of P5,000 will be given to jeepney drivers for the last six months of 2018. This will mean an additional P833 per month or P27.7 per day. 

“Kung kukuwentahin, wala pang isang litro ng diesel ang tulong na binibigay sa ating mga jeepney driver. Kulang na kulang ito sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam urged the government to ensure that the Pantawid Pasada Program is sufficient to cover the rise in fuel prices and allow jeepney drivers to use it for other needs, such as food.

The senator also reiterated his call to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expand the Pantawid Pasada Program to other modes of public transportations such as tricycles and UV express.

“Kung tutulong na rin lang tayo, bakit hindi pa natin lubus-lubusin at isama ang mga nagmamaneho ng tricycle at UV Express,” suggested Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to help lower the prices of fuel and goods at the same time.

Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to stop and rollback the excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

“Suportahan na rin sana ng administrasyong and pag-roll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo at siguraduhing sususpindihin ang dagdag na buwis sa petrolyo sa 2019 dahil sa TRAIN,” stressed Sen. Bam.

“Nalulunod na sa taas presyo ang mga drayber. Nababawasan na nga ang kita, tumataas pa ang presyo ng bilihin,” he added.

Sen. Bam has been meeting with different transport organizations all over the country to get their stand on the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam: Provide enough help to jeepney, tricycle drivers

Senator Bam Aquino reiterated his call to the government to expand the Pantawid Pasada program to include other public transportations to help them shoulder the effects of the administration’s tax reform program.

“Kung tutulong na rin lang tayo, bakit hindi pa natin lubus-lubusin at isama na ang lahat ng uri ng pampublikong transportasyon,” stressed Sen. Bam during his dialogue with members of different transport organizations here.

“Lahat ng kabilang sa sektor ng pampublikong transportasyon, kailangan ng tulong dahil nalulunod rin ang ating mga tsuper sa pagtaas ng presyo ng langis,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 Sen. Bam is one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. Sen. Bam voted against it due to the government’s failure to immediately implement the unconditional cash transfer program and the Pantawid Pasada program.

For 2018, the government has earmarked P977 million for 179,000 jeepney operators under the Pantawid Pasada program. 

 Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expand the Pantawid Pasada program other means of transportation, such as UV Express and tricycles as well.

 During the Senate hearing of the Senate committee on public services in Legazpi, Albay recently, Sen. Bam also urged the DOTr to conduct further study to see if the subsidy is enough to cover the increase in prices of goods due to TRAIN.

 Sen. Bam has been working to alleviate the burden of high prices of goods and services under the TRAIN Law on the Filipino people, especially the poor.

 Sen. Bam has filed a measure that aims to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, Sen. Bam also renewed his call for the full implementation of the unconditional cash transfer program, which will help alleviate the increase in high prices of goods and services caused by the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam wants Pantawid Pasada implemented ASAP, include other means of transportation

Like the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Sen. Bam Aquino said the government has failed to immediately implement the Pantawid Pasada program that aims to help the transport sector cope with the increase in price of diesel fuel.

“Gaya nang nangyari sa UCT, hindi agad naipatupad ang programang ito kahit sinimulan na ang pangongolekta ng excise tax sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Senate committee on public services in Legazpi, Albay on the effects of the TRAIN Law

“Patunay lang ito na hindi sila handa at hinayaan munang magdusa ang taumbayan sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin bago kumilos,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam said that aside from its immediate implementation, he wants the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expand it to other means of transportation, such as UV Express, tricycles and to fishermen as well.

“Kailangan ding tingnan ang ibang transport groups, tulad ng ating UV Express at tricycle. Hindi rin covered ang ating mga mangingisda na apektado rin dahil gumagamit sila ng diesel,” said Sen. Bam.

Also, Sen. Bam called on the DOTr to conduct further study to see if the subsidy is enough to cover the increase in prices of goods due to TRAIN.

“Kung tutulong na rin lang tayo, magbigay na tayo ng tulong na makakasapat sa kanilang pangangailangan para hindi na sila humingi ng dagdag sa pasahe,” said Sen. Bam.

For 2018, the government has earmarked P977 million for 179,000 jeepney operators under the Pantawid Pasada program.

During the hearing, Sen. Bam also batted for the passage of his measure that aims to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, Sen. Bam also renewed his call for the full implementation of the unconditional cash transfer program, which will help alleviate the increase in high prices of goods and services caused by the TRAIN Law.

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