SEN. Erwin Tulfo called on the Executive branch to ensure that the proposed tax relief on petroleum products would also cover gasoline to protect the welfare of the country’s 8.5 million motorcycle riders.
Tulfo made the appeal after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified as urgent the bill granting him authority to suspend or reduce excise taxes on oil products.
During the Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing last week, Tulfo warned against limiting tax relief solely to diesel-based sectors.
“Let us not leave the motorcycle-riding public behind. They use gasoline for their motorcycles, so we cannot limit the excise tax suspension on diesel alone,” Tulfo said.
He noted that there are 8.5 million Filipinos who use motorcycles on a daily basis.
“Many of them use it to go to work, and others use it for their livelihood. What will happen to them if we do not include gasoline in the suspension?” he said.
In response, Finance Undersecretary Karlo Adriano said the Development Budget Coordination Committee and the Department of Energy (DOE) are preparing a recommendation for the president’s approval that will consider these concerns.
Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, also warned against the politicization of government aid.
He said that with fuel subsidies currently reaching public utility vehicle drivers and fisherfolk, there must be “zero tolerance for political grandstanding.”
“We have policies in place prohibiting the intervention of politicians. Those who will be caught using this crisis as a tool for political motives must be punished,” Tulfo said.
“The money being used for these subsidies is from hard-earned taxpayers’ money; there shall be no intervention of any politician in the distribution,” he said.
Tulfo has filed Senate Bill 1750, which seeks to “bar elected officials and candidates from participating in the actual distribution of government financial aid.”
