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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Kabataan responds to Castro: We already pitched solutions to oil price woes

Kabataan responds to Castro: We already pitched solutions to oil price woes

Published Jun 30, 2025 10:11 am

At A Glance

  • Outgoing Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel on Monday, June 30, hit back at Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro after telling the group to come up with suggestions instead of calling out President Marcos over soaring oil prices.
Outgoing Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel on Monday, June 30, hit back at Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro after telling the group to come up with suggestions instead of calling out President Marcos over soaring oil prices.
''Ma'am, ginawa na po 'yan (We already did that ma'am),'' Manuel said in response to Castro.
In the early days of the party-list's term in the 19th Congress, Manuel said they already filed a measure to unbundle oil prices as well as remove the value added tax (VAT) and excise tax from oil products.
Manuel noted that, as early as June 30, 2022, he and other representatives of the Makabayan bloc filed House Bill (HB) No. 400 that sought to lower the price of oil and petroleum products by removing taxes imposed on it through amendments of Republic Act (RA) No. 10936 or the TRAIN Law.
In August of the same year, Manuel and company filed HB No. 3004 or the Unbundling of Oil Prices Bill.
But both bills were stalled at the committee level.
''Ang problema: hindi naging bahagi ng priorities ng Marcos Jr. admin ang mga nabanggit. Halfway into its term, wala pa rin itong maayos na plano para ibaba ang presyo ng mga bilihin at itaas ang sahod ng mga manggagawa (The problem was the measures didn't become priorities of the Marcos admin. Halfway into its term, it still doesn't have a concrete plan to lower the price of basic needs and increase workers' wage),'' Manuel said.
''Mukhang hanggang pa-ayuda lang ang kaya ni Marcos Jr. Wala siyang political will para baguhin ang sistema biased sa mayayaman, na siya rin ang nakikinaban (It seems like Marcos is only capable of giving aid. But he has no political will to change the system that is biased for the rich, and which he benefits from),'' he added.
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