Senators Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino are urging the government to do more for the welfare of Filipino workers amid the elevated prices of petroleum.

They made this appeal in separate statements issued on Friday, May 1, on the occasion of Labor Day.

In a speech before the Philippine Metalworkers’ Alliance Friday in Lipa, Batangas, Hontiveros called on the government to extend more social services to better protect Filipinos from the impacts of the energy crisis sparked by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Hontiveros stressed that beyond wage hikes, the government must provide better services to the public to ease the economic burden on all Filipinos.

“Magkukulang at magkukulang ang sahod ng mga manggagawa kahit ilang beses pa iyan taasan kung kasabay nito ang pagtaas rin ng presyo ng pagkain at pamasahe (Workers’ wages will always fall short no matter how many times they are increased if food and transportation prices rise alongside them)," she said.

According to the lady solon, the transfer of funds to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the public utility vehicle (PUV) service contracting program (SCP) is one of the many policies the government must adopt to cushion the blow of the energy crisis, particularly for drivers and commuters.

“Mayroong P30 billion ang DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) para sa AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) na sa tingin ko ay dapat ibigay na lang sa DOTr para sa service contracting. Sa ganitong paraan, makakasiguro ang mga driver ng mga bus at jeep na may kikitain sila at magtutuloy-tuloy ang kanilang pamamasada,” Hontiveros noted.

(DSWD has P30 billion for AICS, which I believe should instead be given to DOTr for service contracting. In this way, bus and jeep drivers can be assured of earnings and continue their operations.)

She added, “Noong Marso ko pa sinulatan ang DBM (Department of Budget and Management) para malaman kung paano pwedeng ilipat ang pondo para sa AICS patungo sa service contracting. Nakakadismaya nga lang na hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako nakatanggap ng sagot mula sa kanila.”

(As early as March I wrote to the DBM to ask how the funds for AICS could be transferred to service contracting. It is disappointing that until now I have not received any response from them.)

Hontiveros is also working to pass a P52.8-billion supplemental budget, which includes a P12-billion subsidy for PUV drivers, Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers, and delivery riders that would partly fund an expanded service contracting program.

Beyond policies to address the people’s immediate financial needs, Hontiveros said the government must transition into a “service provider” instead of a “crisis manager” by working to increase the social wage — the benefits, services, and public goods from the government that improve living standards.

“Pangmatagalan dapat ang ginhawang binibigay ng gobyerno sa mga kababayan natin, lalo na sa ating mga manggagawa. Ibig sabihin, kinakailangan ng malawakang reporma para mapunan ang kakulangan sa pagkain, transportasyon, at serbisyo sa tao,” Hontiveros said.

(The relief provided by the government to our people, especially to our workers, must be long-term. This means broad reforms are needed to address the shortages in food, transportation, and public services.)

For his part, Aquino emphasized in his Labor Day message the need to extend assistance to the working and middle classes, which comprise 80 percent of Filipinos, amid the current crisis.

“Mahalaga ang papel ng mga nagtatrabaho bilang matibay na haligi ng ating ekonomiya. Gayunpaman, sila rin ang labis na umaaray sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin at petrolyo. Nakalulungkot na para sa marami, wala pa ring natatanggap na anumang ayuda o tulong mula sa gobyerno,” he added.

(The role of workers as the strong pillars of our economy is important. However, they are also the ones who suffer the most from high prices of goods and fuel. Sadly, for many, they still have not received any aid or assistance from the government.)

To help ease their burden, Aquino reiterated his proposal to suspend the collection of excise taxes on diesel and gasoline, as well as reduce the value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services from 12 percent to 10 percent.

“Naniniwala ako na malaking hakbang ito upang mapagaan ang pasanin ng bawat nagtatrabahong Pilipino at ng kanilang mga pamilya, kaya patuloy nating isusulong ang mga rekomendasyong ito,” he said.

(I believe this is a major step toward easing the burden of every working Filipino and their families, which is why we will continue to push for these recommendations.)

Aquino recently filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2047, which sought to reduce VAT on goods and services, including petroleum products, across the economy by amending Sections 106, 107, and 108 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

He also co-authored and co-sponsored in the Senate the recently enacted Republic Act (RA) No. 12316, which grants the President emergency powers to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products.

As early as July 8, 2025, just days after assuming his post as a lawmaker, Aquino filed SB No. 265, which sought the abolition of excise taxes imposed on diesel, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oil, and unleaded gasoline under the TRAIN Law.