Senator Bam Aquino on Thursday called on his colleagues in the Senate to “get back to work” and address pressing national economic issues to rebuild public trust following recent controversies in the upper chamber.
Aquino noted that the institution’s image had been tarnished by a recent leadership shakeup and a shooting incident on May 13.
He emphasized that while political issues dominate the headlines, ordinary citizens continue to suffer from the country’s economic downturn.
“Sa gitna ng mga kaguluhan, naghihirap pa rin ang taumbayan sa mataas na presyo ng gasolina at bilihin, hindi pa rin tumataas ang suweldo, at bagsak pa rin ang ating ekonomiya,” Aquino pointed out.
In the middle of these conflicts, the public continues to suffer from the high prices of gasoline and commodities, wages remain stagnant, and our economy is still down.
To address these burdens, the lawmaker urged the Senate to prioritize consumer-centric legislation, particularly measures aimed at lowering the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel and reducing the standard VAT rate from 12% to 10%.
Aquino has formalized these proposals through Senate Bill (SB) No. 2047, which seeks a broad reduction of VAT on goods, services, and petroleum products.
According to the senator, the measure aims to provide sustainable, long-term relief to shield the middle class from global economic shocks, including the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Additionally, Aquino filed SB No. 265, which specifically pushes for the abolition of excise taxes imposed on diesel, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oil, and unleaded gasoline under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
The senator maintained that legislative action on livelihood and inflation is the only definitive way for the chamber to redeem itself in the eyes of the public.
“Ang tanging paraan para maibalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan ay gawin namin ang aming trabaho para matugunan ang kawalan ng trabaho, mahal na halaga ng bilihin, at iba pang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan,” Aquino added.
The only way to restore the trust of the people is for us to do our jobs in addressing unemployment, the high cost of goods, and the other burdens of our countrymen.