Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday pressed the government to closely monitor oil companies to ensure they are implementing the full extent of mandated fuel price rollbacks.
While acknowledging recent price cuts, she warned against “patingi-tingi” or piecemeal adjustments.
“May rollback, ok ’yan. Pero dapat bantayan kung susunod talaga ang oil firms at kanilang gas stations sa malakihang rollback, at hindi patingi-tingi lang,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin reiterated that fuel firms must comply with government-mandated rollbacks under Executive Order No. 110, which authorizes state regulation of fuel pricing during a declared national energy emergency.
She noted that while most firms have been compliant, violators face penalties ranging from fines of ₱50,000 to ₱300,000 and imprisonment of three months to one year.
Despite the rollbacks, Hontiveros stressed that consumers remain burdened by high costs compared to pre-war levels and are vulnerable to market volatility.
“Malayo pa rin tayo sa presyo ng petrolyo bago ang gyera, at anytime, puwede pa ulit tumaas ’yan. Kaya hindi puwedeng sa rollback matapos ang usapan,” she added.
To provide more sustainable relief, she renewed her call to suspend or reduce petroleum taxes:
- Excise Tax: “Mas mararamdaman pa rin ng mga Pilipino ang ginhawa kung isususpinde ang excise tax.”
- Value-Added Tax (VAT): “Dapat ding pag-aralan na bawasan ang value-added tax para proteksyunan ang konsyumers.”
Currently, excise taxes on LPG and kerosene are suspended under Republic Act No. 12316, which allows the President to adjust levies for a three-month period.
Hontiveros is also pushing for a ₱52.8 billion emergency supplemental budget to assist sectors hit hardest by fuel costs.
The proposed allocation includes ₱38 billion for the repatriation and reintegration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), ₱12 billion for transport subsidies, and ₱2.8 billion for agricultural support.