The Senate is giving “utmost priority” to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s request for emergency powers to reduce excise tax on petroleum products amid the crisis in the Middle East, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.
Lacson said only those who do not want to help ordinary Filipinos cope with the effects of the Middle East conflict – including the rising prices of oil – would not grant such an emergency power.
“Only those who do not want to help alleviate the suffering of ordinary Filipinos brought about by the uncontrolled increase in the prices of oil in the aftermath of the raging Iran war would refuse to grant such emergency power,” he said.
“In fact, the Senate is giving utmost priority to tackle the measure toward this end,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Senado, Bibigyang Prayoridad ang Hiling ng Pangulo para sa Emergency Powers sa Gitna ng Tensiyon sa Middle East
Earlier, Lacson said the President’s possible request for emergency powers to reduce fuel taxes if the Middle East conflict continues to escalate merits serious consideration by Congress.
Lacson noted that the provision in the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law to suspend the excise tax on fuel when the price of Dubai crude oil breaches US$80 had expired in 2020.
Another option, he said, may involve an amendment of the TRAIN law, particularly the second-to-the-last paragraph of Section 148 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), to grant the Department of Finance the authority to suspend the imposition of the excise tax “anytime if the price of crude oil exceeds the same threshold of US$80.”
“But it should not be automatic. Instead, the law as proposed to be amended should only authorize, not mandate the DOF to suspend the excise tax,” he said.
*****
Lacson: Senado, Bibigyang Prayoridad ang Hiling ng Pangulo para sa Emergency Powers sa Gitna ng Tensiyon sa Middle East
Bibigyan ng “utmost priority” ng Senado ang hiling ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. para sa emergency powers upang mabawasan ang excise tax sa mga produktong petrolyo sa gitna ng krisis sa Middle East, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson nitong Lunes.
Ani Lacson, tanging ang mga ayaw tumulong sa karaniwang Pilipino na makayanan ang epekto ng sigalot sa Gitnang Silangan — kabilang ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis — ang hindi magbibigay ng ganitong emergency powers.
“Only those who do not want to help alleviate the suffering of ordinary Filipinos brought about by the uncontrolled increase in the prices of oil in the aftermath of the raging Iran war would refuse to grant such emergency power,” aniya.
“In fact, the Senate is giving utmost priority to tackle the measure toward this end,” dagdag ng mambabatas.
Binanggit na ni Lacson noong nakaraan na ang posibleng hiling ng Pangulo para sa emergency powers para ibaba ang fuel taxes kung patuloy ang sigalot sa Gitnang Silangan ay dapat ikonsidera ng Kongreso.
Aniya, ang probisyon sa Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law para suspendihin ang excise tax sa fuel pag lumampas sa US$80 ang presyo ng Dubai crude oil ay nag-expire na noong 2020.
Isa pang opsyon, ayon kay Lacson, ang amyendahan ang TRAIN law, partikular ang huling bahagi ng Section 148 ng National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), para bigyan ang Department of Finance ng kapangyarihang suspindihin ang excise tax kung ang presyo ng krudo ay lumampas sa US$80.
“Dapat hindi automatic (It should not be automatic). Instead, the law as proposed to be amended should only authorize, not mandate the DOF to suspend the excise tax,” aniya.
*****