roll back of excise tax

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Nasaan ang malasakit sa mahihirap na Pilipino?

Nasaan ang malasakit niyo sa taumbayan?

This was Senator Bam Aquino’s reaction to Budget Secretary Ben Diokno’s pronouncement that Filipinos should not be ‘crybabies’ amid the rising prices in fuel that led to the increase in prices of goods and services.

“Makinig naman kayo sa daing ng taumbayan na nalulunod na sa taas-presyo at nabibiktima pa ng laganap na korapsyon,” said Sen. Bam,  one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Kung may kaya ka, matitiis mo pa ang taas-presyo. Pero ang mga nahihirapan at hindi na nakakayanan ang bigat ng presyo, tulungan na lang natin sila sa halip na sumbatan,” the senator added.

Sen. Bam said poor Filipinos will be at the receiving end of every increase in prices of goods and services due to a hastily approved reform.

“Malinaw na hindi nakapaghanda ang pamahalaan para maibsan ang hirap na dulot ng TRAIN.  Walang nakahandang salbabida habang marami ang nalulunod sa taas ng presyo,” added Sen. Bam.

“Halos 7.4 milliong pamilya pa ang hindi nakakatanggap ng cash transfer na sinusumbat nila. Saan sila kukuha ng pambayad ng bilihin?” Sen. Bam pointed out, referring to the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam recently urged the Senate to address the rising prices to give relief to the poor who are already crying out for help.

To strengthen safeguards against price surges, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798, which seeks to rollback of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam calls for immediate rollback, not suspension of excise tax on fuel

Instead of suspension, Sen. Bam Aquino is pushing for an immediate rollback on the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law amid the people’s cry for an end to the rise in prices of goods and services.
 
“Humihingi na ng saklolo ang mga manggagawa at iba pang sektor. Umaksyon na tayo at i-roll back ang excise tax sa petrolyo,” stressed Sen. Bam, referring to labor groups crying out for higher wages.
 
“A suspension in 2019 is too late. Makinig na tayo sa daing ng mamamayan na nalulunod na sa pagtaas ng presyo,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program.
 
Sen. Bam stressed that the government must admit the problems caused by the tax reform program and find solutions to lower prices of goods and services by rolling back the excise tax.
 
“Hangga’t hindi inaamin ng administrasyon na problema ang TRAIN. Hindi magkakaroon ng solusyon ang pagtaas ng presyo,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 1798, where he sought for the rollback of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.
 
Sen. Bam included this safeguard during the TRAIN deliberations, but the provision was removed from the final draft of the law during the bicameral conference.
 
“Hindi hihigit sa 70 billion pesos ang mawawala sa koleksiyon ng buwis kung i-roll back natin ang excise tax ngayon. Ipagkaloob na sana ng gobyerno iyon para ginhawaan ang mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam stated in his recent privilege speech in the Senate that the targeted 2018 collections from the excise tax on fuel is 70 billion pesos, while government underspending for 2017 is at 390 billion pesos.
 
“I-roll back natin ang excise tax ngayon para pababain ang presyo ng bilihin at matulungan ang lahat ng sektor sa isang bagsakan,” added Sen. Bam.
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