Senator Benigno Aquino IV called on the administration to support his Bawas Presyo bill after the Palace attributed the perception of Filipinos that their lives have worsened due to rising fuel prices.
Aquino’s measure seeks to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.
Results of the second quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations showed the number of Filipinos who said their lives worsened increased from 21 percent in March to 27 percent in June.
“The livelihood of ordinary Filipino families will suffer the most from the price increases in fuel and petroleum products because of the Train Law,” said Aquino, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the tax reform measure.
“The public can no longer breathe due to high prices. Despite their efforts, they can no longer get out of poverty,” the senator said.