Bam Aquino seeks repeal of fuel excise tax

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV continued to push yesterday for amendments to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, saying the repeal of the excise tax on fuel will benefit drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) and commuters.

Malacañang earlier indicated it intends to suspend the next round of increases in excise taxes on gasoline and diesel scheduled in January 2019.

But the Department of Finance said the suspension might no longer be necessary, given the declining price of Dubai crude oil in the global market.

“Suspension (of the excise taxes on gasoline and diesel) is not enough. We should remove the excise tax on petroleum (products) in the TRAIN law,” Aquino said in a statement. 

“Filipinos are now drowning under high prices, especially drivers of jeepneys, tricycles and other PUVs (public utility vehicles),” he said. 

Aquino said if the excise taxes will be removed, PUV drivers could have an additional P87 in income per day.

The added income is enough for PUV drivers to buy two kilos of rice per day for their families, he said. 

Aquino did not bare the basis for his computation.

Since May 2018, the senator has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN law through his Senate Bill 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill. 

The measure aims to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

In addition, the bill also seeks to roll back the excise tax on petroleum products to Dec. 31, 2017 levels or before the TRAIN law was implemented.

Aquino also joined other opposition senators led by Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV and Leila de Lima in filing Senate Joint Resolution No. 15, which seeks to suspend the excise tax under the TRAIN law and mandate the rollback of levy on fuel to Dec. 31, 2017 rates.