Bawas-Presyo Bill

Sen. Bam renews call to suspend excise tax on fuel after big-time oil price hike

Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated his call to suspend the excise tax on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law following the recent big-time fuel price hike due to increase in oil prices in the world market.

“Hindi pa nga nakakahinga ang taumbayan sa mataas na presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin, unti-unti na namang umaakyat ang presyo ng langis sa world market,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Kaya mas magandang itigil na ng pamahalaan ang excise tax sa langis sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law bago pa ito magdulot ng dagdag pang pasanin sa taumbayan, lalo na sa mahihirap,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has filed Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018 to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

On Tuesday, oil companies have announced increase of a least P1.40 per liter for gasoline, P2.30 per liter for diesel and P2.00 per liter for kerosene due to increase in world crude prices.

The second part of the excise tax hike under the TRAIN Law is not yet included in the increase.

Earlier, Sen. Bam slammed the government decision to implement the second part of excise tax under the TRAIN Law, emphasizing that the country’s inflation rate remains far from the government’s inflation rate target of 2-4 percent.

“Nalulunod pa rin sa mahal na presyo ng pagkain at bilihin ang ating mga kababayan kaya napakalaking pagkakamali na payagan ang ikalawang bahagi ng excise tax sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Act quickly on latest price increases, shelve excise tax on fuel

Sen. Bam Aquino urged the government to quickly address the latest increase in prices of goods due to Typhoon Usman and the projected rise in cost of petroleum products from the expected increase in fuel prices in the world market along with the additional excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Kailangang umaksyon agad ang gobyerno para maibsan itong bagong hataw ng taas-presyo ng bilihin at halaga ng produktong petrolyo sa ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Kawawa ang mahihirap nating kababayan dahil sa dobleng hagupit ng bagyong Usman at dagdag-buwis sa petrolyo. Itigil muna natin ang pagpapatupad ng excise tax sa produktong petrolyo,” added Sen. Bam.

The senator said the government should be sensitive to the plight of consumers and poor Filipinos, who are expected to carry the additional burden of high prices of goods due to the latest levy on oil products under the TRAIN Law.

“Hindi pa bumababa yung presyo ng bilihin, tinira na kaagad iyong pagtaas ng petrolyo. Panibagong pasanin na naman ito para sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the government’s decision to implement the second tranche of excise tax under the TRAIN Law.

“Hindi dapat pinapatawan ng buwis ang petrolyo dahil hindi natin kontrolado ang presyo nito,” Sen. Bam stressed, adding that the country’s inflation rate remains far from the government’s inflation rate target of 2-4 percent range.

Sen. Bam’s reaction came amid the reported increase in prices of vegetable and other agricultural products after the onslaught of Typhoon Usman and the expected increase in fuel prices with the implementation of the second tranche of excise tax on fuel.

Sen. Bam said the passage of his Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill will help ease the burden of Filipinos as it suspends and rolls back excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

Sen. Bam filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018.

Sen. Bam: Ayusin ang TRAIN Law, i-rollback ang tax sa petrolyo

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed the House of Representatives’ move to tackle measures to shelve the excise tax on petroleum under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, hoping that the Senate could follow suit and work for its complete removal.
 
“Magandang balita na kumikilos na ang Kamara para maitama ang ilang probisyon sa TRAIN Law na dahilan ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Kailangan talagang ayusin ang TRAIN Law mahihirap ang nasasagasaan nito,” he pointed out, adding that the 6 percent inflation rate for November remains above the government’s target of 2-4 percent.
 
Sen. Bam hopes that the Senate can start tackling his Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill and the minority’s Joint Resolution No. 15, which are both seeking to suspend the excise tax under the TRAIN Law and mandate the rollback of levy on fuel to December 31, 2017 rates.
 
“Hopefully, the Senate can follow suit and tackle these crucial measures before the end of the year,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
Sen. Bam said the passage of these measures is crucial after Malacanang decided to implement the excise tax on fuel in 2019 after initially expressing desire to suspend it.
 
“Mas mahalagang madaliin ang pagsasabatas nito dahil hanggang ngayon, mahal pa rin ang presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin na ikinalulunod na ng marami nating kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the government to reconsider its decision to push through with the collection of excise tax on fuel in 2019.

Sen. Bam thanks government for fuel tax suspension, appeals for complete repeal of TRAIN Law tax on petroleum

Sen. Bam Aquino lauded the government for listening to the people’s plea and suspending the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, saying this could lead to its eventual removal.
 
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Presidente at sa kanyang economic managers sa pag-aksyon sa isyu na matagal nang daing ng mga pamilyang nahihirapan sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
“Ito’y tagumpay ng mga Pilipinong matagal nang humihiling ng tulong sa matinding pagtaas ng presyo,” added Sen. Bam, who has been calling for the suspension and roll-back of TRAIN Law’s tax on fuel since May this year.
 
Sen. Bam made the reaction after Budget Sec. Ben Diokno announced that the government will suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law in 2019.
 
Sen. Bam hopes that the government’s move is an indication of its willingness to eventually remove the all of the excise tax on fuel under its tax reform program, which could lead to lower prices of food and other goods.
 
“Mahalaga po itong suspension ng dagdag-buwis sa Enero, pero mahalaga rin tanggalin ang buwis na nakapataw na sa ngayon. Kailangan pa ring tugunan ang problema ng mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa mahal na presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Despite this development, Sen. Bam is determined to push for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill, which he filed last May.
 
The measure attempts to change and fix the TRAIN Law by ensuring the suspension and rollback of fuel tax once the country’s inflation rate is too high.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Don’t sacrifice children’s welfare for revenue

Alarmed by report that children’s nutrition is affected by inflation and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that their health should be prioritized over government revenue.

“Nakakabahala na mga bata ang pinakatinding tinamaan ng TRAIN Law at mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, referring to a report by Ateneo de Manila University researchers that Filipino children were deprived of needed nutrients due to high inflation from February to September.

“Huwag ipagpalit sa dagdag na buwis ang kalusugan ng ating mga anak,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Reiterating his willingness to work with the government to lower prices of food and other goods, Sen. Bam said there is an urgent need to suspend and roll back of the excise tax on petroleum products imposed by the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam submitted Senate Bill No. 1798 or the “Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill” last May to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law and roll it back to December 31, 2017 levels.

The only measure in the Senate that seeks to amend the TRAIN Law, Senate Bill No. 1798 aims to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate surpasses the government’s inflation target for three consecutive months.

Furthermore, Sen. Bam said the government should ramp up the rollout of the social mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pasada Program and even the 10-percent discount on NFA rice.

Sen. Bam also called on the government to fully implement Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansiyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which aims to eradicate hunger and undernutrition by providing free nutritious meals to public day care, kindergarten and elementary school students.

Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of the measure as principal sponsor and co-author during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

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 urges Congress to work together on Bawas Presyo Bill as inflation remains high

With inflation unchanged and still beyond the projected target range, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that government must work together to help Filipinos still suffering from high prices of food and other goods.

“Mataas pa rin ang presyo at umaaray pa din and mga pamilyang Pilipino. Bigyan natin sila ng kahit kaunting ginhawa ngayong Pasko,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Magtulungan na tayo upang suspindihin at i-rollback ang buwis sa petrolyo. Ipasa na natin sa Kongreso ang Bawas Presyo Bill at ayusin ang TRAIN Law,” added Sen. Bam who filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May.

Sen. Bam renewed his call to the government to support his measure, which he believes could help lower prices of petroleum products and the prices of goods in the market.

“Pinagtulungan na natin noon ang batas na libreng kolehiyo. Ngayon, itong Bawas Presyo Bill naman sana ang Christmas gift natin sa ating mga kababayan,” urged Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill 1798 is the only measure in the Senate that seeks to amend the TRAIN Law. If passed, it will 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.

The senator said that reducing the cost of petroleum products would not only affect fare prices but would also have an indirect effect on the prices of food and other goods in the market.

Also, 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: Pass Bawas Presyo Bill, fix TRAIN Law on top of wage increase

The P25 salary increase for National Capital Region (NCR) cannot stand alone and should be coupled with efforts to lower prices of goods, including the suspension of excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 
 
“Parehong dagdag kita at bawas presyo ang kailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Bigyan natin ng sapat na ginhawa ang mga Pilipinong nalulunod sa pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain, bigas at iba pang bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 
 
“Gawing prayoridad na sana ng Kongreso ang pagpasa sa Bawas Presyo Bill para maayos naman kahit kaunti ang TRAIN Law at mabawasan ang pasan ng Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, who is the only senator to file a measure seeking to amend the TRAIN Law. 
 
Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018 to add a safeguard to the TRAIN Law that allows for the suspension in the collection of excise tax on fuel should the inflation rate surpass the country’s predicted target for three consecutive months. 
 
“Kung ipasa ang Bawas Presyo Bill at tanggalin ang excise tax sa petrolyo sa TRAIN Law, hanggang P87 kada araw ang dagdag sa kita ng ating mga jeepney driver,” said Sen. Bam, adding that this would be enough for PUV drivers to buy two kilos of rice per day for their families. 
 
Sen. Bam also said that reducing the cost of petroleum products would not only affect fare prices but would also have an indirect effect on the prices of food and other goods in the market. 
 
“Magandang regalo ngayong Pasko ang tulong sa pagbababa ng presyo ng bilihin. Kaya itutuloy ko sa Senado ang paninindigan para sa Bawas Presyo Bill upang ayusin ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, who continues to stand by his no-vote on the TRAIN Law.

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: Excise tax suspension is a win for Filipinos, illustrates value of independent voice

The government’s plan to remove the excise tax on petroleum products in January 2019 is a win for Filipinos and an indication of the importance of having an independent voice in government, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 

“Panalo ang pamilyang Pilipino sa pagsuspindi ng dagdag buwis sa gasolina, diesel at iba pang produktong petrolyo sa Enero,” said Sen. Bam, who has been pushing for the suspension of excise tax since May 2018. 

“Patunay din ito sa halaga ng pagkakaroon ng magkakaibang boses sa gobyerno – pati na ang minorya o oposisyon. Mahalagang pakinggan ang iba’t ibang panig na mayroong solusyon sa problema ng bayan,” added Sen. Bam, referring to his call for suspension and rollback of the TRAIN Law despite the hardline defense of the administration’s economic managers. 

Sen. Bam stressed that there’s more to be done as he reiterated his push to rollback the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law to December 31, 2017 rates. 

“Magandang unang hakbang ito. Pero kailangan nang aksyunan ang Step 2 – tuluyan na nating alisin ang buong excise tax sa petrolyo na pinataw ng TRAIN Law. Ipasa na ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill at joint resolusyon ng Minority Bloc,” stressed Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program. 

On May 10, 2018, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill, seeking to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

Sen. Bam’s measure also seeks to rollback the excise tax on petroleum products to December 31, 2017 levels or before the TRAIN Law was implemented. 

In addition, Sen. Bam and other minority senators — Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon and Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes and Leila de Lima — submitted Senate Joint Resolution No. 15 seeking to suspend the excise tax under the TRAIN Law and mandate the rollback of levy on fuel to December 31, 2017 rates. 

In their resolution, the minority senators urged their fellow lawmakers to support their initiative to alleviate the plight of Filipinos, especially the poor. 

“Magtulungan na tayo’t magtrabaho para lutasin ang krisis sa presyo at bigyan ng ginhawa ang mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa gastos,” said Sen. Bam, who also delivered three privilege speeches on the negative effects of TRAIN Law and excise tax on fuel.

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