Senator Joel Villanueva on Monday, March 7 called on the government to start the "immediate" and "efficient" distribution of fuel subsidies to the transport, agriculture, and fisheries sector amid the continuous fuel price hikes.
The fuel price surge is being attributed to the easing of Covid-19 pandemic protocols worldwide and, most recently, by the raging Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Villanueva made the call because it saddens him "that oil prices increased just when the economy is opening up".
"Let's carefully study the next steps regarding excise tax for gasoline," the reelectionist senator said.
Villanueva proposed that the government reduce or remove the excise tax for gasoline "for the meantime so that we would take some of the burden off our consumers".
He added that the government can also "increase fuel subsidies corresponding the increase in excise tax collection".
"Let's find ways to save on gasoline consumption. It's a good thing we were able to pass the Telecommuting or Work From Home Law to address the hardships of everyday commute to work," he said.
"Let's give solutions to Filipino workers so that we can all continue working despite the crisis," he added.