Sen. Erwin Tulfo Speaks on Gov’t Ayuda amid Oil Crisis in PH
ERWIN TULFO – The Senator called for the government to include the Middle Class earners in the release of “ayuda” amid the high oil costs.
The high fuel costs in the Philippines now is affecting countless Filipinos most especially the members of the transport sector and the daily commuters. Jeepney drivers and delivery rides are even already calling now for a long-term solution to the problem. The series of oil price hikes has brought the price of diesel to P170 per liter.
The increase in the fuel costs in the Philippines is brought by the ongoing war in the Middle East. Currently, the Strait of Hormuz which is a vital passageway for global oil shipments got restrictions.
Tehran imposed restrictions in the Strait after the United States and Israel launched joint airstrikes against Iran that led to the death of several Iranians. Even their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died from the attack. They are currently banning U.S. and Israel-linked ships from passing Hormuz.
United States Pres. Donald Trump previously gave Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait or they will blow up the energy facilities of the country. However, it did not scare off the Iranian officials who warned back that they might fully close the passageway.
Pres. Bongbonng Marcos previously ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to talk to Iran to let the oil shipments bound for the Philippines to pass safely. Iran agreed on the safe passage of the Manile-bound oil shipments.
However, according to Department of Energy or DOE Secretary Sharon Garin, the Filipinos should not expect that the Hormuz passage will immediately pull the fuel prices. Currently, the Philippine government is rolling out fuel subsidies to drivers while Marcos Jr. has suspended the fare hike to balance the help to the people.
Recently, amid the ongoing high oil costs in the Philippines, Sen. Erwin Tulfo reacted to the ayuda extended by the government to the people. Ever since, the poorest of the poor remains the main target of the assistance from the state.
Based on News5, Sen. Erwin Tulfo expressed his belief that the below minimum and middle class earners must also be part of the ayuda from the government. He called the members of these sectors as the “backbone” of the labor force.
“Tama naman po, tulungan natin [ang] mahirap, but what about the backbone of our labor force? Kasi I keep on reading (that) we are so focused on several sectors. But what about these sectors?” Tulfo said.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo made the state during a Senate session. Based on the post, he stressed that the government should look at everyone and not just the poorest of the poor.
“When we talk of ayuda… we also have to look at everybody, hindi lang po ‘yung poorest of the poor… What about po ‘yung mga nasa middle class? Let us not forget these people,” the Senator added.
Previously, Sen. Loren Legarda questioned the initial oil price hikes in the Philippines citing that those fuel were bought at regular prices.