CAGAYAN de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged Wednesday Congress to hold a special session to approve bills that would suspend excise taxes on oil products.
The calling for suspension according to Rodriguez for fuel taxes in the wake of the soaring price of crude oil in the world market due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I support the proposal of my colleagues for a special session. We have to act now before the cost of crude and domestic fuel prices rise further,” said House deputy speaker Rodriguez.
Last week, Rodriguez and 1-Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Rep. Mike Defensor of Anakalusugan and Rep. Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna proposed the convening of Congress so it could pass bills seeking the suspension of oil taxes.
“We can meet virtually for a few days to act on those proposals,” Rodriguez said.
He said he is echoing his fellow lawmakers’ appeal for leaders of Congress to recommend to President Duterte the holding of a special session.
Only the President has the power to convene the legislature during its recess, he said.
Congress is on its three-month election campaign break.
In October, Rodriguez filed Bill No. 10246, which seeks the suspension of oil taxes for four years, from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2025, to give people a respite from high fuel prices caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and allow the economy to full recover.
The House leader said he would push for the approval of his bill if the President convenes Congress.
He said the adverse impact of the pandemic on Filipinos and the economy was the basis for his measure.
“Now, there is more compelling reason for us to suspend fuel taxes due to worsening the Russia-Ukraine crisis,” he said.
Rodriguez appealed to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, who is opposing the proposed suspension, “to look at the bright side of the proposal.”
He said if fuel prices continue rising in the months ahead, many Filipinos who are already suffering from economic difficulties because of the pandemic may resort to additional belt-tightening measures.
“If the government cuts oil taxes and fuel prices, it would in effect be telling the public, ‘No, don’t do further belt-tightening, keep the level of economic activity you’ve been doing.’ That will have a positive, instead of a negative, impact on the economy,” he said.
As for Dominguez’s warning that tax suspension would mean a revenue loss of more than P130 billion, Rodriguez said the government could impose savings especially on non-essential expenses to offset losses.
He added that Malacañang and the Department of Budget and Management could reduce allocations for such expenses as travel, donations, representation or entertainment, repairs and maintenance, donations, supplies and materials, and utilities.
He pointed out that lockdowns and work-from-home for most employees in the bureaucracy should have resulted in substantial savings for the government. (Ben Balce)
