It will be an early Christmas gift President Rodrigo Duterte will be giving Filipinos if he heeds appeals for the suspension of the imposition on excise tax on petroleum products amid the continued rise in fuel prices.
House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City Fourth District Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay is among those urging Duterte to grant the wish of majority of population for a respite from the inflationary effects of the unabated hike in fuel prices and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suntay has filed House Resolution No. 2318 containing the appeal for the suspension of the tax imposition provided under the much-criticized TRAIN Law.
The QC solon said Duterte's grant of the appeal will be considered by Filipinos as an early Christmas gift from the chief executive.
He stated that with the expected relaxation of strict quarantine restrictions and an ebb in COVID-19 infections, Filipinos may expect a joyous Christmas season this coming December.
However, he warned that unless the excise tax on fuel is lifted in the meantime that oil prices continue to soar, any attempt to pursue economic recovery from the adverse effects of the CoVID-19 pandemic can be difficult to achieve.
“The Filipino people has yet to recover from the economic hardship brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. They need immediate help from government,” said Suntay.
The administration lawmaker disclosed that suspension of excise tax would mean reducing the current prohibitive cost of petroleum products by at least P10 for gasoline; P6 for diesel and kerosene and P3 per kilo n an 11-kg LPG cylinder.
The call for the temporary lifting of excise tax on fuel has been echoed by many sectors, including the Department of Energy.
Suntay said heeding the appeal of many Filipinos would free them from the inflationary effects of both the rising cost of petroleum products and COID-19.
He expressed serious concern over the fate of consumers, especially the public utility drivers and operators, who have been struggling from the adverse economic impact of the unabated increase of fuel prices and the pandemic.
“The needs of the Filipino people must come first, and our most impoverished citizens cannot endure the continued price hikes much longer,” the House official said.
“I appeal to the President to give the citizens a much needed break” he said.