The number of congressmen recently filing bills that seek to lower the excise tax on fuel products proves that his earlier proposal can be done in the country, said presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso.
Domagoso has been repeatedly expressing his commitment to cut by 50 percent the taxes that go with fuel and electricity since the announcement of his presidential bid.
In his talk with the workers of BPO firms in Cebu City on Saturday, Nov. 8, Domagoso said he felt vindicated with the number of bills filed in the Lower House echoing his tax cut on fuel.
"Tingnan niyo, kung ako’y mali, kung hindi doable yung pinag-uusapan natin na tax cuts. Alam niyo ba sa Kongreso ngayon, apat na bills ang na-file bigla para sa suspension of excise tax. Sinabi ko yun about three weeks ago tapos may nag-author na four days ago (You see, if I'm wrong, if the tax cuts we are talking about are not doable. Did you know in Congress today, four bills were suddenly filed for the suspension of excise tax. I said that about three weeks ago and then someone wrote four days ago,” he said.
The Manila mayor believes that doubling down on tax cuts would directly benefit not only poor people but also the middle class who were affected by the continuous price increase of the crude oil.
"If I am wrong, why would a congressman, who is not my party mate, thought of the same thing? Kung walang sense ang sinasabi ko (If there is no sense in what I say), who would file that bill? I am an optimistic guy. Sana mapasa para wala na akong utang sa inyo. At least nagising sila sa konsepto at ideya ng isang batang basurero (I hope it passes so that I no longer owe you. And at least they woke up to the concept and idea of a young garbage man)," he added.
Slashing taxes means people would have more money to spend on their basic needs and that the economy would also recover, Domagoso earlier said.
He said increase in the prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene is the reason why transport groups, drivers, and operators of PUVs keep demanding for a fare hike.
On Nov. 2, Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente Salceda, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means, filed House Bill 10438 which calls for the lowering the excise tax on fuel products for six months including zero tax for diesel, with the revenue to be foregone by the government estimated at more than P55 billion.
The measure, if signed into law, would exempt diesel and kerosene from excise tax and would reduce the charge on gasoline to P7 per liter (/L) from P10/L. The excise rate was set by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and is enforce between Dec. 1, 2021 and June 1, 2022.
“So what if the government loses money when that money goes back to the people? The government can step back. It’s time that we put people first,” the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer said.