MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday certified as urgent a measure allowing him to suspend or reduce the excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global emergencies as the Philippines grapples with soaring oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict.
In a letter to Speaker Faustino Dy III, Marcos said the bill needs to be enacted immediately “to allow the government to respond promptly to extraordinary fuel price volatility and stabilize domestic fuel prices during the period of severe economic
disruptions.”
The House of Representatives passed the measure on second reading last Wednesday. A similar Senate bill is up for plenary approval.
If a measure is certified as urgent, it becomes exempted from the rule that a bill can only be approved on final reading three days after it is passed on second reading.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the chamber hopes to finish next week its deliberation on a similar measure soon after the House transmits its approved version.
“Since it’s certified, we shall finish it next week. That is the plan and it’s a priority as well for the Senate,” Zubiri said.
“By the Constitution, all tax measures must emanate from Congress. As soon as it gets approved on third reading and referred to us, then we can act on it on the plenary floor ASAP,” he said.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto transmitted the President’s letter to the Speaker, certifying as urgent House Bill 8418 or the “act authorizing the president of the Philippines to suspend or reduce the excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global economic emergencies, amending for the purpose the national internal revenue code of 1997, as amended.”
In his letter, Marcos said he wanted the measure passed immediately to “allow the government to respond to extraordinary fuel price volatility and stabilize domestic fuel prices during the period of severe economic disruptions.”
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government does not intend to borrow from international lending institutions to fund its Middle East conflict response. She said the Philippines still has enough funds to bankroll its crisis mitigation measures which include, aside from giving the President special powers, allowing the importation of biofuel as well as subsidies to the transport and agriculture sectors.
Castro also disputed Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the administration is not doing enough to address the impact of the crisis.
“Do not believe the fake news that the government is not doing anything. Those who believe it do not see the work of the President because they are frequently outside the Philippines,” the Palace press officer said.
Castro claimed that at the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, Duterte was in another country.
The Palace press officer added that Duterte should clarify her basis for saying that the government should have started preparing as early as 2022.
According to her, Marcos and Duterte were campaigning under the UniTeam alliance and if there had been verified information about a looming crisis, it should have been communicated to authorities.
“Did she mention something about this to the DND (Department of National Defense)? If she knows this, perhaps she has a crystal ball and she should have communicated it if it is verified information,” Castro said.
“If she did not, definitely this is a breach of public trust. We have what we call nonfeasance, government personnel who do not work.”
Castro also called on Filipinos living in California to remain alert and vigilant.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has informed California law enforcement units that Iran had tried to launch unmanned aerial vehicles on unspecified targets in the state last February and warned of possible attacks in the future.
Lifeboat
For Rep. Miro Quimbo, chairman of the House of Representatives’ ways and means committee, the President’s use of special powers to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products is the only “lifeboat” the government can offer Filipinos reeling from the effects of the Middle East crisis.
At the Senate, agriculture committee chairman Francis Pangilinan said the P3,000 subsidy to fisherfolk would not be enough to make them weather the current crisis.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, for his part, called for the release of fuel subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Marc Jayson Cayabyab