House Approves Bill Na Pwedeng Mag-Suspend ng Fuel Excise Tax — Marcos Expected to Sign ASAP
In a decisive move amid the worst oil crisis in Philippine history, the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would give President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the power to suspend or reduce excise taxes on fuel products. A total of 247 lawmakers voted in favor, with only three members of the Makabayan bloc opposing the measure.
Under the bill, the President can pull the trigger on suspending fuel excise taxes kapag ang barrel price ng Dubai Crude ay umabot na sa $80, or when oil prices spike extraordinarily during a national emergency or calamity. Malacañang already certified the measure as urgent, meaning Marcos is expected to sign it quickly once the Senate passes its own version.
If a full suspension happens, motorists could see significant relief: kerosene drops by ₱5 per liter, diesel by ₱6 per liter, and gasoline by ₱10 per liter. But the government stands to lose an estimated ₱136 billion in revenues from May to December if it goes the full suspension route, which is why partial reduction remains an option.
Hindi lahat natutuwa, though. Opposition lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc argue that the bill is a short-term fix na hindi talaga mag-guarantee ng real relief. Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co both pushed for the outright removal of VAT and excise taxes on fuel through legislation, calling the current approach insufficient.
The urgency comes as fuel prices in the Philippines saw double-digit increases last week — the highest jump in DOE history — driven by the US-Israel conflict with Iran and wider Middle East tensions. The DSWD has already started rolling out ₱5,000 cash aid to tricycle drivers in Metro Manila to cushion the impact.
Source: Rappler
