Vice presidential candidate Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday urged the government to consider granting fuel discounts or subsidy for those in the transportation industry and other strategic sectors to help cushion the impact of the recent oil price increases.
Go said the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) should study this mechanism in order to lessen the burden to the public.
The senator said the government can also include food deliveries and other public transport services in the subsidy program.
“Sa pagbibigay ng (In granting) discount or subsidy, mas mapapagaan natin ang bigat na dulot ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis (we can ease the burden brought about by the oil price increases),” Go said in a statement.
“Maliban sa mga karaniwang commuters, makakatulong din ito sa pag-kontrol sa posibleng pagtaas sa presyo ng mga pagkain at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan na nakasalalay sa mga byahero mula sa mga producers papunta sa mga palengke at consumers (Aside from helping our commuters, it would also control the price hikes for basic food and commodities that are reliant on producers who transport the goods),” the senator said.
Suspend train law
Go also said he supports the calls for possible amendments to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law to allow the temporary suspension of fuel excise tax at this time.
“Pag-aralan din natin ang posibleng pag-amyenda sa kasalukuyang batas upang mapahintulutan ang temporary suspension ng fuel excise tax sa panahong masyadong mataas ang presyo ng langis sa world market (Let’s also study amending the present law to allow a temporary suspension of fuel excise tax whenever prices of fuel is high in the world market,” he said.
“Mandato nating nasa gobyerno na pagaanin ang bigat na dinadala ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ngayong meron pa tayong krisis na pilit malampasan. Huwag na nating dagdagan ang pahirap sa kanila (The government has a mandate to ease the burden of consumers especially during this time when we are trying to overcome a health crisis. Let’s not add to their burden),” he also stressed.