inflation

Sen. Bam: Lower prices of goods, best Valentine’s Day gift to Filipinos

Reducing prices of petroleum products and goods is the best Valentine’s Day gift to Filipinos burdened by high prices of food and other goods due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Ang pinakamagandang regalo sa taumbayan ngayong Valentine’s Day ay bawas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, who filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May 2018 to help lower prices of petroleum products and other goods.

“Masakit ang puso ng maraming Pilipino dahil nalulunod pa rin sa taas-presyo ang taumbayan lalo na ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

The price of galunggong rose from P130 per kilo in December 2017 to P200 per kilo in December 2018 before slightly dropping to P180 per kilo as of February 7. Sardines rose from P15 in December 2017 to P17.50 in December 2018 up to present.

Prices of bangus increased from P130 per kilo in December 2017 to P200 per kilo in December 2018 before dropping to P180 per kilo early this month while pork went up from P200 per kilo in December 2017 to P220 per kilo in December 2018 up to present.

“Nakaka-heartbreak pong malaman na nananatili pa ring mataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin tulad ng sardinas at baboy. Kailangan pong ipaalala na sa gobyerno na hindi parin bumababa ang presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam warned that Filipinos will be in for a tougher time with the increasing prices of petroleum products and electricity.

“Kailangan na nating kumilos upang matugunan ang serye ng pagtaas na ito. Panahon na upang ipasa ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill na matagal na nating isinusulong upang mabigyan ng ginhawa ang ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam’s measure seeks to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

Sen. Bam: Food inflation up to 6.1%, suspend TRAIN now

Senator Bam Aquino warned that the continuing increase in the prices of goods will lead more Filipinos to hunger even as he renewed his call for the suspension of the government’s tax reform program.

Sen. Bam made this pronouncement as he noted that food inflation for June increased to 6.1 percent from 5.7 percent in May, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Lalong nalulunod sa taas-presyo ang taumbayan dahil sa totoo lang, mas nagmahal talaga ang pagkain nitong nakaraang buwan ayon sa sariling datos ng gobyerno,” said Sen. Bam, who has been consulting with families and communities on pressing issues, like rising prices.

“Sabi ng mga tindera ng isda na nakausap ko, matumal ang bili sa kanila kasi wala nang pera ang mga suki. Instant noodles at sardinas na lang ang mabili,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam said government data backs up the claim of many Filipinos that prices of goods and services have increased drastically since the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 “Kung patuloy pong aakyat ang presyo ng pagkain, paano na kakain ng tatlong beses isang araw ang mahihirap nating kababayan?” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam said the government should act now and suspend the TRAIN Law so as to alleviate the plight of poor Filipinos, who are already burdened by the government’s tax reform program.

“Gutom po ang dulot nitong TRAIN sa mga mahirap nating kababayan kaya kailangan na talaga isuspinde ito agad,” said Sen. Bam.

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.

The senator has submitted 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.

Sen. Bam: Gov’t should be alarmed, protect poor from high inflation rate

Senator Bam Aquino contradicted government’s claim that the 5.2-percent inflation rate in June is not alarming, saying it should be concerned about the suffering of the Filipinos on the high prices of goods due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.   

“Dapat lang na mabahala ang gobyerno sa matinding taas presyo. Huwag natin ito maliitin dahil pinapahirapan nito ang ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam, in reaction to Malacanang’s statement that the current inflation rate is not something to worry about

“Hanggang nalulunod sa taas presyo ang mga kababayan natin, hindi magiging epektibo ang mga programa kontra-kahirapan,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam hopes that the President will address the issue of the TRAIN Law in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) and focus on anti-poverty measures to help ease the burden of Filipinos, especially the poor.

“Umaasa tayong pagtutuunan ng Pangulo sa kanyang pangalawang SONA ang pagsugpo sa kahirapan para tulungan ang ating mga kababayan na maitawid ang pangangailangan araw-araw at makaahon,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

“Para maging matagumpay ang pagsugpo sa kahirapan, kailangan magsimula sa pagsugpo ng taas presyo sa pamamagitan ng pagsuspinde sa TRAIN,” he added.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law as it could help lower prices of goods and services. 

The senator has submitted a bill seeking to suspend and 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. 

In addition, Sen. Bam is pushing for the full implementation of 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: President should address high prices, support TRAIN suspension during SONA

With the country’s inflation rate breaching the 5-percent mark in June, Senator Bam Aquino is hoping President Duterte would announce the suspension of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Hindi na makatarungan ang pagpataw ng excise tax sa petrolyo habang pataas ng pataas ang presyo nito sa merkado. Nalulunod na ang taumbayan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced on Thursday that inflation rate reached 5.2 percent in June, the fastest level in at least five years.

On Tuesday, oil companies raised their pump prices by P0.65 per liter for gasoline, P0.55 for diesel and P0.70 for kerosene. Starting this month, the electric bill of Manila Electric Company consumers will reflect a higher generation charge due to tight power supply and the further weakening of the peso.

 “Ito ang numero unong alalahanin ng mga pamilya kaya sana talakayin ito ng Pangulo sa kanyang SONA. Tugunan natin ang pangangailangan ng Pilipino. I-roll-back at suspindihin na ang excise tax ng TRAIN,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

During his dialogue with different sectors, Sen. Bam said he has received many grumblings about the high prices of goods and services and the lack of necessary support from the government.

Sen. Bam insisted that the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law should provide welcome relief for Filipinos who are burdened by high prices of goods and services.

“Sana marinig ng Pangulo ang hinaing ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has submitted a bill seeking to suspend and 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.  

Also, Sen. Bam is pushing for the full implementation of 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 to gov’t: Protect Filipinos from killer combo of rising prices and unemployment

Senator Bam Aquino called the increase in prices of goods and the rising unemployment a killer combo that needs to be addressed immediately.

“Huwag natin i-knockout ang pamilyang Pilipino sa combo na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin at kawalan ng trabaho,” said Sen. Bam, one of only four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

A recent Pulse Asia survey indicated that 98 percent of respondents claimed the prices of basic goods they usually purchase have increased due to the tax reform law, and around 86 percent said they were strongly affected by the prices increases.

In addition, a latest survey by SWS showed that the number of unemployment Filipinos rose to 10.9 million, the highest since 2016.

“Hindi na biro ang epekto ng TRAIN sa mga Pilipino, kaya tayo tumutol dito. Ngayon na mas malala pa pala ang kinalabasan nito, dapat lang na pag-aralan at solusyunan ang matinding pagtaas ng presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said he will present stories of Filipinos affected by the TRAIN Act from the series of community dialogues that he conducted in different parts of the country when the Senate conducts a hearing on the tax reform program on May 9 (Wednesday).

“Mahalagang mailabas natin ang bigat na ibinibigay ng TRAIN upang ito’y marepaso at nang maibsan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also urged Congress not to move forward with TRAIN 2, as it may exacerbate the problem of unemployment by removing incentives for certain businesses.

 Sen. Bam has filed Proposed Senate (PS) Resolution No. 704, calling for a review of the TRAIN Act, claiming it greatly contributes to the increase in prices of goods and services that burdens Filipinos, mostly the poor.

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