TRAIN

Sen. Bam Aquino: Tama na, sobra na ang pagdadahilan sa taas-presyo

Instead of making excuses and misleading statements, Senator Bam Aquino called on the government to extend immediate assistance to Filipinos by finding solutions to the rising prices of goods and services due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 “Huwag na nating paikutin ang mamamayan para ipagtanggol ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the government’s tax reform program.

“Tama na, sobra na ang pagpapahirap sa Pilipino. Labanan at solusyunan na lang ang pagtaas ng presyo,” added Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam was referring to a GMA News report, where the National Economic Development Authority said that a family of five can survive on P10,000 a month, or P127 daily for food.

“Marami na ngang nasagasaan at nalulunod na sa pagtaas ng presyo, huwag na bilugin ang mga Pilipino. Tama na ang mga palusot, tulungan na lang natin ang mga pamilyang nahihirapan,” added Sen. Bam.

 “Hindi na nga makahinga ang mga Pilipino sa sikip ng sinturon, binibilog at niloloko pa natin ang mga tao para lang maidepensa ang minadali nilang Train Law,” added Sen. Bam.

As part of his push to ease the burden on the public, Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In a separate resolution, Sen. Bam also sought the review of the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law. Six months after the implementation of the TRAIN Law, the government has yet to fully roll out the unconditional cash transfer program.

Sen. Bam also pushed for the full implementation of the Pantawid Pasada program, which aims to help jeepney operators and drivers cope with the increase in price of diesel fuel.

Sen. Bam: Pati pag-aaral ng kabataan nasagasaan ng TRAIN

Senator Bam Aquino expressed fear that high prices of goods and services due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law might force poor families to sacrifice the education of their children.

“Dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo, maraming mahihihirap na estudyante ang maaaring hindi na makapag-aral,” said Sen. Bam, one of our senators who voted against the TRAIN Law.

“Tumaas na ang cost of living pero hindi pa rin nadadagdagan ang kita ng mga manggagawa. Dahil kulang na ang suweldo, maaaring masakripisyo na ang pag-aaral ng mahihirap na estudyante,” added Sen. Bam.

“Ilang kabataan kaya ngayon ang di na nakapag-enroll dahil hirap ang mga magulang sa pagtustos ng mga gastusin dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” the senator queried.

Due to the high prices of goods and services, Sen. Bam said the value of government’s assistance programs, such as the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the free college education, to the poor has eroded.

“Hindi na sapat ang tulong ng 4Ps para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mahihirap na Pilipino. Buti na lang at may libreng kolehiyo na,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor of the free college law in the Senate.

Aside from filing a resolution seeking to review the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law, Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to roll back TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Also, Sen. Bam also renewed his call for the full implementation of the unconditional cash transfer program, which will help alleviate the increase in high prices of goods and services caused by the TRAIN Law.

During a Senate hearing on the TRAIN Law in Legazpi City, Sen. Bam also pushed for the full implementation of the Pantawid Pasada program, which aims to help jeepney operators and drivers cope with the increase in price of diesel fuel.

Also, Sen. Bam wants the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expand the Pantawid Pasada to other means of transportation, such as UV Express, tricycles and to fishermen as well.

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: Filipinos demand solutions, not excuses for high prices

Instead of making excuses, Senator Bam Aquino called on the government to find solutions to lower the prices of goods and services due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

In his privilege speech on Wednesday, Sen. Bam insisted that the Filipino people are heavily burdened by the high prices of goods and services, in addition to the impending increase in electricity and jeepney and LRT fares.

“Nalulunod na po ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of TRAIN Law.

“Tumataas din ang presyo ng kuryente, ang presyo ng bigas, at humihingi na ng fare hike ang mga jeepney drivers at operators, pati na ang LRT. Kaya naman napakarami na ang umaalma,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam emphasized that the effects of the TRAIN Law in the increase in prices of commodities are evident and the Filipino people are crying for help from the government to alleviate their plight.

Sen. Bam pointed out that Filipinos, especially the poor, are expecting the government to provide solutions to the increase in prices of goods and services.

“Habang patuloy ang debate sa mga rason ng pagtaas ng presyo, ang hinahanap ng taumbayan solusyon, hindi po dahilan,” said Sen. Bam.

In his speech, Sen. Bam offered three solutions to alleviate the burden of the Filipino people brought about by the TRAIN Law, including the full implementation of the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law and by addressing the high price of rice in the market.

Most importantly, Sen. Bam batted for the passage of his measure that 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.

“Under this bill, when inflation exceeds the target range for three consecutive months, the excise tax on fuel will be rolled back,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam successfully 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: Roll back excise tax ASAP, next year is too late

We welcome the openness of Malacanang to the suspension of additional excise taxes in 2019, but this is too little, too late.
 
Ang hinahanap ng taumbayan ang pag-rollback sa presyo ng petrolyo at iba pang bilihin.
 
Kaya sa aming panukala, babawiin pati ang dinagdag na excise tax on fuel na pinataw na sa merkado ngayong 2018. 
 
Umaasa kami na susuportahan ang safeguard na ito ng aming mga kasama sa Senado.
 
Kailangan protektahan mula sa TRAIN at taas-presyo ang mga mahihirap na Pilipino. Nalulunod na sa taas ng presyo ang ating mga kababayan.

Sen. Bam: Severe price increases with no cash transfer to poor families, grounds for TRAIN suspension

Senator Bam Aquino insisted that the excessive price increases, unprecedented inflation rate and government’s failure to deliver on the unconditional cash transfer program are sufficient grounds to suspend the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
 
“Hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin. Mula tatlo, ngayon dalawang beses kada araw na lang kumain ang ilang pamilya. Masasabi pa ba nating magtiis na lang sila?” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
Sen. Bam was alluding to Socio-Economic Planning Sec. Ernesto Pernia’s pronouncement that Filipinos should just tighten their belts and live with the effects of the tax reform law.
 
“Ang malala rito, hindi pa nabibigay ng gobyerno ang pinangakong financial assistance ng TRAIN sa higit 6 million na pamilya. Sapat na dapat ito para isuspindi ang TRAIN law,” said Sen. Bam, who is pushing to suspend the TRAIN Law, particularly the excise tax on fuel.
 
Under Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1798, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will automatically be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.
 
Sen. Bam successfully included this safeguard during the TRAIN deliberations, but the provision was removed from the final draft of the law during the bicameral conference.
 
“Sagad na ang pagtitiis ng mga Pilipino sa pagtaas ng presyo. Gawin naman natin ang ating makakaya para bigyan sila ng kaunting ginhawa,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the targeted collections for excise tax on fuel in 2018 is only P70-billion, compared to government underspending last year amounting to P390 billion.
 
“Hindi lang TRAIN ang pinagkukunan ng budget. We can ‘Build, Build, Build’ and provide Filipinos free college tuition in SUCs even without collections from the excise tax on fuel,” Sen. Bam asserted.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Use your power to limit price increases, ease Filipinos’ burden

While there are many elements contributing to the increase in prices of goods and services, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed the need to focus on factors under the government’s control, like the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 

“Maaaring kontrolin ang TRAIN at pagpataw ng buwis sa petrolyo. Bigyan natin ng kaunting ginhawa ang mga pamilya, isuspindi natin ang excise tax,” said Sen. Bam, referring to his measure to stop the collection of excise tax on fuel under TRAIN once the inflation rate breaches “target range.”

 

Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

 

During the TRAIN’s deliberation, Sen. Bam introduced an amendment to include a safeguard where the implementation of TRAIN Law will be stopped once inflation rate breaches the “target range.”

 

Fellow senators approved Sen. Bam’s amendment but the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure.

 

“Kailagang aminin na nahihirapan na ang mga Pilipino sa pagtaas ng presyo. Gawin naman natin ang ating makakaya upang tulungan ang mga pamilya,” added Sen. Bam.

 

Sen. Bam expects his colleagues to support his measure since many of them approved it during the deliberation of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam to govt: Care for poor families, support TRAIN suspension

Senator Bam Aquino called on the government to prioritize poor Filipinos and support the suspension of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, particularly the excise tax on fuel. 
 
Sen. Bam made this pronouncement as he filed Senate Bill No. 1798 that seeks to amend the controversial tax reform program that will suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the prescribed “target range.” 
 
“We must protect Filipinos from the rising prices of goods and services,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the TRAIN law’s ratification. 
 
“Milyon-milyon ang mga pamilyang nababalisa tuwing tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin tulad ng bigas, sardinas, kuryente at pamasahe,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the government needs to play an active role in managing inflation and ensure that our countrymen can survive the rise in prices. 
 
“Kakaunti na lang ang nabibili ng pera ng pamilyang Pilipino dahil sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin na dulot ng TRAIN,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
In his measure, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 
 
“It is our responsibility to be flexible and responsive when the weight of inflation becomes too heavy for the poor Filipino families to bear,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
During the TRAIN’s deliberation, senators approved Sen. Bam’s amendment to include a safeguard where the implementation of TRAIN Law will be stopped once inflation rate breaches the “target range.” 
 
However, the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure.

Sen. Bam to hit the brakes on TRAIN Law

Senator Bam Aquino will file a measure that will restore his earlier proposal to stop the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law once the inflation rate breaches “target range.”

“Importanteng may mga safeguards ang TRAIN para mai-preno ang pagpataw buwis kapag sumobra ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Economic Affairs on TRAIN Law. 

“We pushed for these safeguards even before the TRAIN Law was passed, but they were disregarded. Siguro ngayong nakikita nilang nahihirapan na ang taumbayan, susuportahan na nila ang amyenda kong ito,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 

During the TRAIN deliberations, the Senate approved Sen. Bam’s amendment to include a safeguard where the implementation of TRAIN Law will be stopped once it breached the “target range.” 

However, Sen. Bam said the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure. 

“Kung hindi inalis ang safeguard na ito, napatigil na sana natin ang TRAIN Law ngayong napakataas na ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” said Sen. Bam. 

Earlier, Sen. Bam warned the country’s economic managers, led by the Department of Finance (DOF), that will country’s inflation rate will surpass the four-percent mark due to the TRAIN Law. 

“Noon pa tayo nagbabala sa pamahalaan na ang mahihirap ang masasagasaan ng TRAIN, kaya tayo kumontra sa pagpasa nito. Kailangan nating banggain ang mga repormang lalong nagpapahirap sa taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

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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