SEN. Bam Aquino on Wednesday slammed the delayed implementation of Republic Act (RA) 12316, which grants the president emergency powers to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products.
The senator called for immediate government action to ensure food security by promoting the welfare of sectors that feed the nation amid soaring fuel costs and rising inflation brought by the war in the Middle East.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed RA 12316 on March 25, authorizing the suspension or reduction of excise taxes on petroleum products if Dubai crude oil prices reach or exceed $80 per barrel for one month.
”We know that process has started and the people have been waiting for this [to be implemented],” Aquino said in Filipino, referring to RA 12316.
He said the suspension or reduction of excise taxes on petroleum products should have been enforced as early as two weeks ago.
Aquino voiced his frustration during a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform public hearing on the government’s readiness to provide timely support to farmers and fishermen affected by the Mideast conflict.
He said that surging fuel prices are not only a transport issue but a serious and direct threat to food security, particularly affecting farmers, fisherfolk and small market vendors.
Aquino said that protecting farmers, fisherfolk and small vendors “is crucial to ensuring stable and affordable food supply and prices,” urging the government to act swiftly and decisively before the situation worsens.
He also renewed his call to suspend the value-added tax on fuel, noting that this measure would offer immediate and significant relief to Filipinos struggling with soaring oil prices.
Aquino recently filed Senate Bill 2011, which aims to address a gap in RA 7581, or the Price Act, by including petroleum products among the basic necessities that may be subjected to a price ceiling during periods of national emergency.
He sought immediate government intervention to protect the “core foundations” of the Filipino family, which he identified as the marketplace, the hospital and the school.
He said the government should ensure that every parent has food on the table and every child has access to proper nourishment amid the crisis.
Aquino said the Philippines should take a closer look at what other countries are doing to address the effects of the conflict and consider adopting similar measures.
”We need urgent action to protect the three foundations of the Filipino family: the marketplace, the hospital and the school. First, the prices in the marketplace; second, the services in hospitals; and third, keeping our schools open,” he said.
”Let us show that we are capable of unity for the people. Let us not wait until the point where people are forced to choose who among their family gets to eat. Let us act immediately to stop the continuous rise in food prices in our society,” he said. BERNADETTE TAMAYO
