excise tax on fuel

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.

Adding tax to fuel, worrisome start to the new year – Sen. Bam

Sen. Bam Aquino is worried the government is starting the year on the wrong foot by adding taxes to petroleum products based on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, saying it may worsen the burden of high prices on the Filipino people.

“Ang pinakamainam na New Year’s resolution para sa bayan ay bawasan ang pahirap sa mamamayan,”said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Nalulunod pa nga sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin ang ating mga kababayan, may dagdag buwis pa ulit. Tulungan sana natin ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” added Sen. Bam, who earlier called for the 100% implementation of the law for free college.

Sen. Bam said he hoped the government would defer the implementation of the second tranche of excise tax on fuel until inflation normalizes or until prices of food and other goods go down.

Under the second tranche, an additional two pesos excise tax will be imposed on gasoline and diesel and one peso on kerosene and LPG in 2019.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the rollback of the tax on fuel through the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill that he filed in May 2018.

The measure aims to fix the TRAIN Law by ensuring the suspension and rollback of excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

Sen. Bam: Inflation rate still high, shelve plan to implement excise tax on fuel in 2019

The government should reconsider its decision to implement the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law for 2019 as inflation rate remains far from its original target, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Walang basehan itong pagbawi ng pangako ng gobyerno dahil mas mataas pa rin ang inflation sa sarili nilang target,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the November inflation rate of 6.0 percent, which remains far from the government’s inflation rate target of 2-4 percent range.

“Ibig sabihin, nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng krisis ng taas presyo kaya mali ang desisyong patungan ng excise tax ang produktong petrolyo sa susunod na taon,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the government should have based the suspension of excise tax on fuel on inflation rate and not on world crude prices, which he is pushing in his Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill that he filed in May 2018.

“Matagal na nating ihinain ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill na nagsisikap na baguhin at ayusin ang mga problemadong probisyon ng TRAIN. Ito na lang sana ang binigyan ng pansin ng economic managers, imbis na ulitin ang mga pagkakamali ng TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam lamented the decision of economic managers to implement the excise tax on fuel for 2019, days after recommending its suspension.

“Nakakapagod ang mga urong-sulong na pangako, lalo na para sa mga Pilipinong nalulunod sa taas-presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

“Pinakinggan sana ang taumbayan at hindi na gatungan ng buwis sa petrolyo ng TRAIN Law, habang alam naman ng lahat na ang pag-akyat nito ang dahilan sa mataas na presyo sa merkado,” he added.

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.

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 to gov’t: Time to roll back fuel tax, suspend TRAIN law

Senator Bam Aquino stressed that it’s high time for the government to address the high prices of goods and services amid the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) projection that inflation rate could reach as high as 5.1 percent in June and the further weakening of the peso.

“Sa paghina ng piso, lalong nalulunod sa taas presyo ang mga Pilipino. Malaking porsiyento ng mga produkto sa merkado ay mayroong imported na raw materials, kaya ang tama ng pagbaba ng peso ay pagtaas na naman ng presyo,” said Sen. Bam, dispelling the statement of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno that weakening peso is not bad for the country.

“Pareho ang sinasabi ng datos ng gobyerno at karanasan ng maraming Pilipino, nalulunod ang taumbayan sa tumitinding taas presyo,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.   

Sen. Bam maintained that the rise in inflation rate and the weakening peso are reasons enough for the government to suspend the TRAIN Law.

“Ano pa po ba ang patunay na kailangan ng gobyerno para isuspinde na ang pahirap na TRAIN?” emphasized Sen. Bam, who has been conducting dialogues with different sectors around the country on the effects of the TRAIN Law in the prices of goods and services..

“Sabi nga po ng isang tindera sa Bicol, kaming mahihirap ang ginawang riles para umandar ang TRAIN,” said Sen. Bam, adding that most, if not all, of the people whom he talked to are already burdened by the government’s tax reform law.

“Dumarami pa po ang nasasagasaan ng TRAIN, kailan po ihihinto ng gobyerno pahirap na ito,” added the senator, who has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law to help lower the prices of goods.

Sen. Bam called on the government to support his measure calling for the immediate suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to ease the public’s burden.   

If passed into law, Sen. Bam’s measure will roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.   

 Sen. Bam also called on the government to fully implementation the mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

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.

Sen. Bam dares gov’t to roll back excise tax on fuel

Senator Bam Aquino challenged the government to act now and roll back the excise taxes on petroleum products under its tax reform program to lift the burden of high prices on the Filipino people, especially the poor.

“Nalulunod na ang mga Pilipino sa taas ng presyo. Huwag na natin antayin na tumaas lalo ang bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

”Aantayin pa ba nila ang 2019? Hindi pa ba aaksyon ang pamahalaan?” asked Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam made this pronouncement after the Department of Energy (DOE) declared that the TRAIN Law allows for immediate suspension of excise taxes on petroleum products.

However, the DOE said the suspension would only cover the additional excise tax due for 2019.

“Next year is too late. Hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino sa pagtaas ng presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

In his privilege speech on Wednesday, Sen. Bam emphasized that one of the ways to alleviate the burden of the Filipino people is to suspend the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law.

In his Senate Bill No. 1798, the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law will be rolled back when the 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.

 

Sen. Bam strengthens call to suspend TRAIN amid cries for fare increase

A senator stressed the need to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the government’s tax reform program, saying the transport sector is already crying out for support amid the increase in fuel prices.

“Para sa mga driver, operator at pasahero, i-ipreno na ang TRAIN para mapagaan naman ang kanilang sitwasyon,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Ibalik na ang mekanismo para masuspindi ang excise tax dahil sa inflation upang mabawasan na ang pasanin ng parehong driver, operators at mga commuter,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after several jeepney operators filed a petition asking for a P2 fare increase and the possible surge pricing during rush hours due to the recent increase in prices of petroleum products.

Sen. Bam submitted Senate Bill No. 1798, seeking to stop the collection of excise tax on fuel under TRAIN once the inflation rate breaches “target range.”

In Sen. Bam’s measure, the collection of excise tax will be suspended once the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam introduced that specific provision during the TRAIN’s deliberation and was approved by fellow senators. However, the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure.

“Bigyan naman natin ng kaunting ginhawa ang ating mga kababayan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo at iba pang mga bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.

Scroll to top