Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who is pushing for an additional budget to help public utility vehicle (PUV) users, said that while oil prices are volatile, the excise tax imposed on them can be postponed.
Go stated that he would favor a special session of Congress to address issues such as the excise tax suspension in the face of rising oil costs.
“Ang tanong diyan, papayag ba ‘yung finance managers natin dahil mayroon na silang projection for this year para sa collection nila? In the meantime dahil hindi pa stable ang presyo ng langis, pwedeng i-suspend muna natin [ang excise tax]… I will vote for it,” Go said.
Go also stated that he will support legislation that allocates additional funds for targeted assistance to disadvantaged workers, notably those in the transportation industry.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has awarded P2.5 billion in fuel subsidies to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for about 377,000 qualifying PUV drivers.
Another P500 million was given to the agriculture department to assist farmers and fishers’ transportation costs to prevent food price increases.
Bong Go eyes suspension of fuel excise tax
“Kung ano yung solusyon na pwedeng gawin ng executive, kung i-suspinde muna [ang excise tax] o magbigay ng ayuda, susuportahan ko,” he said.
“I am willing kung kailangan magkaroon ng panibagong batas para magkaroon ng budget para matulungan ang mga tsuper at mga apektado,” Go added.
Furthermore, Go emphasized the importance of further research into requests to declare a state of economic emergency in the wake of the fuel price crisis.
“Hindi ko masagot sa ngayon [kung inclined ang Presidente]. Pinag-aaralan pa ng executive department kung aabot sa ganoong sitwasyon. Ako naman, bilang inyong senador… we are very much willing to sit down to address itong fuel hike,” Go said.
“Nung nag-usap si Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte at some of his cabinet members, pinapa-address na niya ito. Kung kakailanganin ng session o nang batas, willing kami. I cannot speak on behalf of the whole body pero ako willing ako,” he added.
Go advised oil companies to avoid taking unfair advantage of the situation by inflating prices needlessly for profit.
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