Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial candidate Carl Balita expressed support for Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s call to lower the excise tax on fuel products amid the continued increase in prices.

“Maganda yung programa ni Yorme (Mayor Isko) na tatanggalin niya yung excise tax, kasi kontrolado naman ng gobyerno ang excise tax. Malulugi ang gobyerno, totoo yun, pero naibalik naman sa tao, at yung pera umiikot sa tao (Yorme's program is good that he will remove the excise tax, because the government controls the excise tax. The government will lose money, that's true, but it has been returned to the people, and the money will go back to the people),” Balita said during his visit at Calapan, Oriental Mindoro on Jan. 27.

“Hindi kailangan ang batas na specific to a particular group kasi pwede naman na yung batas na yon, tanggalin mo lang yung tax, at gagawin ni Yorme, aba e pati koryente natin ay bababa. Pamasahe sa tricycle, pamasahe sa inter-island crafts, lahat bababa dahil lamang sa isang desisyon na tanggalin mo muna, magparaya muna ang pamahalaan para yung pera, umikot muna sa tao (There is no need for a specific law to a particular group because that law is possible, you just remove the tax, and Yorme will do it, even our electricity bills will decrease. Tricycle fare, inter-island crafts fare, all will go down just because of one decision, the government will put people first)” he added.

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.

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.

He had also earlier said slashing taxes means people would have more money to spend on their basic needs and that the economy would also recover.

Domagoso noted the 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.

“While the government may lose around P130 billion in revenues due to the proposed tax cuts, the same amount will immediately benefit the people in terms of savings – savings that would subsequently return to government as people spend more due to their stronger purchasing power,” Domagoso previously said.

Balita, meanwhile, also said it will be much better if the people will benefit from that P130 billion.

“Hanggat may corruption, hindi makikinabang yung mga nasa ibaba. So, ngayon imbes na may corruption, ibigay mo na lang sa tao yung pera at sila na yung gumastos (As long as there is corruption, those below will not benefit. So, now instead of corruption, just give the money to the people and let them spend it) ”said Balita.

The senatorial aspirant also vowed that he will introduce legislations aimed at providing security of tenure to health workers, teachers, and to all Filipino workers.

“Si Isko Moreno ang pinakamagaling na lider na nakita natin sa gitna ng pandemya, hindi yung pinakamagaling sa future, gusto ko ang pag-usapan ngayon. Tignan niyo ang mga ginagawa ng mga tao ngayon para sa nasasakupan niya, si Isko Moreno yon (Isko Moreno is the best leader we have seen in the midst of the pandemic, not the best in the future, I want to talk about now. Look at what people are doing today under his constituency, Isko Moreno)”.