MANILA, Philippines – Gustong ibigay ni dating Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero kay Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang permanenteng kapangyarihan na tutugon sa palagiang pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo sa international market.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Escudero na kailangang amyendahan ang Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law upang mabigyan ng kapangyarihan ang Pangulo na isuspinde o ibaba ang sinisingil na excise tax at value-added tax sa gatong kapag pumalo ang halaga ng krudo sa benchmark assumptions para sa Dubai crude sa Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing (BESF) ng gobyerno.
Ayon kay Escudero: “The current safeguard in the TRAIN Law or Republic Act No. 10963 is ‘too narrow’ and requires specific conditions before excise taxes can be suspended. He said a broader amendment is needed to ensure faster relief for consumers during oil shocks caused by force majeure events such as wars or global crises.”
Giit ng senador na matagal na nitong posisyon na bigyan ng automatic authority ang Pangulo na isuspinde ang paniningil ng buwis upang protektahan ang consumers sa biglaang pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo.
“The law should be amended to automatically give the President that power to suspend or lower excise and VAT rates when prices exceed the estimated range of Dubai crude oil based on the BESF, which guides government budget assumptions,” aniya.
“Government cannot enjoy windfall in excise taxes at the expense of the public because of the increase in prices brought about by force majeure,” dagdag ni Escudero.
Inihayag ni Escudero ang kanyang panukala matapos magpahayag si Marcos na hihingi ito sa Kongreso ng emergency powers upang ibaba ang excise tax sa produktong petrolyo kapag tumaas sa higit $80 kada bariles ang Dubai crude upang protektahan ang consumer.
“We should not wait for every crisis to pass through Congress before action can be taken. The law must already provide the President with the automatic authority to act when conditions demand it,” giit niya. Ernie Reyes
