Suspend VAT on petroleum products, Brosas asks gov't amid worsening Middle East violence
At A Glance
- Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas on Monday, June 23, has called on President Marcos to suspend the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on oil and petroleum products as local pump prices are expected to dramatically rise amid tension in the Middle East.
Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas on Monday, June 23, has called on President Marcos to suspend the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on oil and petroleum products as local pump prices are expected to dramatically rise amid tension in the Middle East.
Brosas warned that the impending fuel price hike will trigger a domino effect on the prices of food and other basic necessities, and that it will worsen the crisis for Filipino families.
“Panibagong dagok na naman ito para sa mga pamilyang Pilipino, lalo na sa mga nanay na araw-araw nagsusumikap para mairaos ang pagkain sa hapag. Taun-taon na lang paulit-ulit ang cycle ng oil price hikes na agad sinusundan ng taas-presyo sa pagkain at pamasahe (It is yet another burden for the Filipino families, especially for mothers who have to work hard everyday to provide for their families. Every year there's a cycle of oil price hikes that are followed by rise in prices of food and transportation), Brosas said.
“Dapat i-suspend na ng gobyerno ang 12 percent VAT sa langis. Agad itong magbibigay ginhawa sa milyun-milyong mamamayang hirap na hirap na (The government must suspend the 12 percent VAT on petroleum. It will immediately give relief to the millions of people who are already suffering), she added.
Brosas says suspending VAT on oil is a short-term but urgent relief measure.
At the same, structural solutions such as the repeal of Oil Deregulation Law and permanent scrapping of VAT on oil, utilities and basic necessities should be prioritized, she reckoned.
Hindi sapat ang mga promo at discount na pinag-uusapan ng DOE at oil companies. Ang kailangan ay konkretong aksyon para pigilan ang pagsirit ng presyo (Giving promos and discounts as per the proposal of DOE and oil companies are not enough. We need a concrete action to stop the continued oil price hike), she said.
At kahit pansamantala, malaking bagay kung tatanggalin ang buwis sa langis (And although the suggestion is temporary, it would be a big deal if we remove the tax on oil and petroleum),” she added.