Sen. Loren Legarda Emphasized Senate’s Urgency on Passing Executive Department’s Request
LOREN LEGARDA – The Senator slammed the Marcos Jr. administration over its seemingly unstable stance on the suspension of fuel excuse tax.
Today, another oil price hike brought the costs of diesel and gasoline to levels that are very challenging towards countless Filipinos most especially the public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers. The price of premium diesel already reached P140 per liter.
The series of oil price increase in the Philippines is triggered by the ongoing war involving Iran, United States, and Israel. The issue sparked after U.S. and Israel launched joint airstrikes against Iran which led to the death of its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several government officials and civilians.
The pump prices in the Philippines have increased thrice already. U.S. Pres. Donald Trump previously warned Iran that they might be hit much harder if they will block the global oil flow. However, Tehran place restrictions with regards to the passage in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran allow international vessels to pass by the Strait of Hormuz but not those ships linked to the enemies. U.S. Pres. Donald Trump previously gave Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to fully open the Strait of Hormuz but, instead, the Iranian government responded with another threat to fully close the waterway for everyone.
Amid the ongoing war in Iran, the executive asked the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass a measure that will give Pres. Bongbong Marcos the power to suspend the fuel excise tax. In the lower chamber, a total of 247 lawmakers voted in favor of the proposed measure that will give Marcos Jr. the power to suspend excise tax on fuel.The move is in the pursuit of cushioning the impact of the surging fuel costs.
The series of oil price hikes in the Philippines directly affect the transport workers, farmers, and businesses which rely on petroleum products. The country relies big on imported oil, thus, the pump prices immediately jumped.
After the bill that gives him the power to suspend oil excise tax was passed in the lower chamber, Pres. Bongbong Marcos said the suspension of the fuel excess tax will depend on the trend of the oil prices.
In the Senate, the Fuel Price Relief Act in which Sen. Loren Legarda is one of the key proponents was filed. It aims to suspend or reduce the excise taxes as well as the 12% Value Added Tax or VAT on petroleum products.
However, based on News5, during a Senate hearing, Sen. Loren Legarda slammed the Marcos Jr. admin over the suspension of the fuel excise tax. Her remarks came amid the absence of Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin at the hearing.
“Ang gulo ninyo. Sinabi nyo, excise tax kailangan, urgent. Noong napasa namin, sinabi we will see. Yan, galing sa inyo yan ha, kung gagamitin. Tapos, the next day, o sige na nga. Ano ba? Ano ba? Kailangan ba? Hindi. It was deemed urgent, napasa, tapos pagkapasa namin, we will see,” the Senator claimed.
Sen. Loren Legarda stressed that the Senate is not taking a break without making an action towards the request of the executive department. Based on the post, the Senator also stressed that the Senate should not be blamed for allegedly taking a break that’s why the Philippine National Oil Company cannot use its money.
“That’s unfair. Eh ang sekretary nga ninyo wala dito eh. Kung anong pamumulitika ang ginagawa na naman ang sekretary nyo,” Legarda said.
Recently, despite the claims of his Cabinet that the food and petroleum supply in the Philippines are sufficient, Pres. Bongbong Marcos declared a State of National Energy Emergency in the Philippines.