Senator Erwin Tulfo has called for inclusivity in the proposed suspension of excise tax on petroleum products, stressing that the measure should not be limited to diesel alone.
“Huwag nating iwanan ang mga naka-motorsiklo. Gasolina ang gamit nila, kaya hindi natin pwedeng limitahan lang sa diesel ang suspensyon ng excise tax,” Tulfo said during a Senate hearing.
The senator highlighted that around 8.5 million Filipinos rely on motorcycles daily for work and livelihood, warning that excluding gasoline users from tax relief would leave them at a disadvantage.
Department of Finance Undersecretary Karlo Adriano assured that the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) will consider Tulfo’s appeal in their recommendation to the President, aiming to take a “holistic view” of the proposal.
Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, also cautioned against politicizing the distribution of fuel subsidies.
“May mga polisiya na tayong nagbabawal sa pakikialam ng mga politiko. Ang sinumang mahuhuling gumagamit ng krisis na ito para sa sariling interes ay dapat parusahan,” he warned, emphasizing that subsidies come from taxpayers’ money, not politicians’ pockets.