Senate Bill No. 1798

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 Bam: Additional 87 pesos per day for jeepney drivers if TRAIN excise tax is repealed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 to Malacañang: Prioritize, Certify Urgent the Bawas Presyo Bill

TANAUAN, Batangas — Representatives from different sectors here aired their grievance over the high prices of goods as they pushed for the immediate passage of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Bawas Presyo Bill into law. 

“Hindi man ito prayoridad ng gobyerno, certified urgent ito ng mga mahihirap na Pilipinong nalulunod na sa taas-presyo,” Sen. Bam said during the “Kumustahang Bayan” held at the Trading Post in Tanauan, Batangas. 

“Sana marinig ng pamahalaan ang hinaing ng ating mga kababayan at samahan tayo sa pagsusulong upang maisabatas na ang ating panukala, lalo na’t magtataas na naman ang excise tax sa petrolyo sa Enero dahil sa TRAIN Law,” added Sen. Bam 

During the dialogue, representatives from the farmers, senior citizens, tricycle drivers, market vendors, and fisherfolk sectors informed Sen. Bam how the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law has affected their livelihood. 

“Mataas ang kuha namin ng gulay, ngunit hindi namin ito puwedeng ibenta nang masyadong mahal dahil wala nang bibili sa amin,” said Lucile Mangaya, a vegetable vendor. 

“Marami na ang natitira sa aming paninda. Natutuyo at nabubulok na lang ang mga ito,” she added. 

Francisco Reyes, a tricycle driver, said the high price of gasoline has affected his daily income that prevented him from providing enough food and clothing for his family. 

“Para mabawi namin ang gastos sa gasolina, dapat lima ang sakay namin bawat biyahe. Pero dahil apat lang ang kasya sa tricycle, lugi na agad ang pasada namin,” said Reyes. 

Nick Chavez, president of the senior citizens’ organization in Tanauan, said they have yet to receive the additional P200 monthly financial assistance under the TRAIN Law. 

“Likas na matiisin ang mga Batangueño, kahit sa pagtaas ng presyo. Pero iba na talaga ang pagtaas ng presyo ngayon, hindi na po namin kaya,” said Chavez 

The representatives urged Sen. Bam to do everything he can to have his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill enacted into law to ease the burden caused by high prices of goods. 

“Kailangang-kailangan nang maisabatas ang panukala ni Sen. Bam dahil hirap na hirap na po kami sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Marissa Gatdula, president of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI). 

Sen. Bam, for his part, has committed to work for the passage of his measure, which aims 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. 

If passed, the Bawas Presyo Bill will roll-back this year’s increase in the excise tax on petroleum and will suspend another scheduled increase in January 1, 2019. 

Sen. Bam is one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam on missing economic targets: Taumbayan ang kawawa tuwing pumapalpak ang gobyerno

As the economic managers keep missing targets, Filipino families continue to suffer, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Tuwing sumasablay ang gobyerno, taumbayan ang natatamaan,” said Sen. Bam, who filed Senate Bill 1798 or Bawas Presyo Bill to suspend Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law’s excise tax on fuel. 

“Pag mali ang prediksiyon ng economic managers, taumbayan ang nalulunod sa taas-presyo. Pag palpak ang NFA Administrator, taumbayan ang nagugutom. Alalahanin sana ng mga lingkod bayan na ang mga Pilipino ang sasalo pag may kakulangan sa ating trabaho,” Sen. Bam added. 

Last year, the government released projections that inflation will be within two percent to four percent. It later revised this projection to four percent to 4.5 percent.

Presently, inflation stands at 5.7 percent. And in a recent Senate hearing, the Department of Finance admitted they did not study the indirect effects of the TRAIN Law.  The country’s GDP hit 6.8 percent in the first semester, short of the target of was 7-8 percent. 

Rather than working on other means to lower inflation, Sen. Bam said the government should support his measure that aims to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law. 

“Solusyunan na natin itong taas-presyo. Simple lang, ipasa ang Bawas Presyo Bill at tanggalin na ang excise tax sa petrolyo,” urged Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam 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 stressed that this should be certified urgent since there is a scheduled second round of increase in excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

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 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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