Dela Rosa supports calling of special session for immediate suspension of excise tax on fuel

Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday backed the suspension of excise taxes on fuel products to provide immediate relief to consumers amid the big-time oil price hike.

This, however, could only be done if President Rodrigo Duterte calls for a special session in Congress.

“’Yung excise tax siguro puwede natin aksyunan kaagad by calling a special session in Congress,” Dela Rosa said in an ANC interview.

(Maybe, we can take immediate action on the excise tax by calling a special session.)

“Ang Pangulo ay hihingi ng special session para ma-amend itong TRAIN law na ‘to especially pertaining to excise tax,” he added.

(The President will ask for a special session so we can amend the TRAIN Law especially pertaining to excise tax.)

Dela Rosa said other mitigating measures like the review of the Oil Deregulation Law might not be possible in the 18th Congress.

“Kung ang ipo-focus natin ‘yung pag [regulate] ng oil industry mukhang madugo na talakayan ‘yan… So dun muna tayo sa excise tax mag-focus. Maybe next Congress puwede natin i-tackle ‘yung [regulation],” he said.

(It will be an extensive discussion if we will focus our efforts in regulating the oil industry. So we should focus on the excise tax of fuel prices. Maybe next Congress, we could tackle the regulation.)

Last week, Malacañang called on Congress to review the Oil Deregulation Law amid the weekly increase in oil prices and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Senate energy committee chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian said the government should “seriously consider” suspending the excise taxes on petroleum products amid the implementation of big-time price hike.

According to the senator, suspending excise taxes on fuel will bring down the gasoline retail prices by P11.20 per liter and diesel prices by P6.72 per liter.

Apart from Gatchalian, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva pushed for the suspension of excise taxes on fuel products.

Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda on Monday also prodded President Rodrigo Duterte to call for a special session in Congress amid the continuous increase in oil prices.

He said it is Duterte’s “moral obligation to the people to provide relief because that means almost 75 days of suffering already.”

Congress had adjourned session last February 4 and will only resume session by May 23 or after the May 9 national and local elections.

Congress, however, can resume session if Duterte calls for it.

Earlier, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Alexei Nograles said there was no indication that Duterte will call for a special session for Congress to act on measures that will address the unabated oil price hikes, including suspension of fuel tax. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA News