President Marcos is expected to announce his decision on the fuel excise tax cut on Tuesday, April 14, as the law granting him emergency powers to either reduce or suspend excise taxes on petroleum products has already taken effect.

Marcos has yet to decide on the excise tax cut despite the effectivity of the law, but Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President may finally make an announcement on Tuesday.

He is expected to make an announcement after a meeting with the UPLIFT committee.

"Bukas po ay magkakaroon muli ng UPLIFT meeting at after the meeting, ibibigay po namin sa inyo ang pinaka-update. At mayroon na po kaming iaanunsiyo (Tomorrow, there will be an UPLIFT meeting and after the meeting, we will give you the update. And we already have something to announce)," Castro said in a Palace briefing.

She, however, did not give further details as she "does not want to preempt what the President will announce."

Republic Act (RA) No. 12316, a law giving him emergency powers to suspend or reduce excise tax on petroleum products, was signed on March 25. It took effect 15 days later.

Malacañang maintained its position on the call to remove the value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products, saying the President cannot suspend the tax because there is no law granting him emergency powers to do so.

"Iyan naman po’y pinag-aaralan po ha, kaya nga po may iaanunsiyo bukas kung ilan pong tax ang maaaring maibawas or ma-suspend (That is currently being studied, which is why there will be an announcement tomorrow on how much tax may be reduced or suspended)," Castro said.

Castro noted that "the President is balancing everything" as taxes are also needed to fund the government so it can continue supporting other priorities and complete ongoing projects, while allocating funds to help ease the impact of the crisis in the Middle East.

Asked if the President is inclined to also ask the Congress to grant him special powers to suspend VAT on petroleum products, Castro said it may be discussed at the UPLIFT meeting on Tuesday.

"Sa ngayon po, hindi ko po masasabing oo, hindi ko masasabing hindi. So, malamang mapag-usapan po ito sa UPLIFT meeting tomorrow. Kung mapag-uusapan po ito, ibibigay ko po sa inyo ang update (At the moment, I cannot say yes, and I cannot say no. So this will likely be discussed at the UPLIFT meeting tomorrow. If it is taken up, I will give you an update)," she said.

The Palace official said the budget to support the government’s response to the impacts of the Middle East crisis remains sufficient. Thus, there is no need for the Executive department to request additional funding from Congress.

"Sa ngayon po ay maayos pa po ang pondo from the 2026 GAA at masu-sustain pa po ito sa ngayon (At present, the funds from the 2026 General Appropriations Act are still sufficient, and they can be sustained for now," Castro said.