Poor Filipinos
EVERYBODY agrees that poor Filipinos, who comprise the bulk of the country’s more than 110 million population, bear the full brunt of the skyrocketing prices of goods.
Admittedly, the news that the costs of oil and other petroleum products in the international market will continue increasing due to the still raging Russia-Ukraine war is “chilling.”
Reports said the protracted bloody conflict between the two nations has been disrupting global oil supply and distribution, forcing the major oil producers to raise their prices.
We can understand why President Duterte’s economic managers are leaving to the new administration to decide on whether or not to suspend the excise tax on imported fuel.
“Mabuti naman at naisip ito ng economic team ng papaalis na administrasyon dahil napakahalaga ang isyung ito,” according to a supporter of President Marcos.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, on the other hand, said he was amenable to a suspension of the excise tax if the Russia-Ukraine war would be prolonged further over the next few months.
The newly-reelected member of the Philippine Senate from Valenzuela City is the outgoing chairman of the highly-influential Senate committee on energy.
Of course, many quarters, including the ordinary citizens, share the view of Gatchalian that there’s a need to conduct a public hearing on the proposed suspension of the excise tax.
Wala naman sigurong masama kung marinig muna natin ang pros and cons ng ipinapanukalang suspensyon ng nasabing buwis bago mag-desisyon ang mga kinaukulang otoridad.
In the view of many, including motorists, passengers and consumers, it’s a move in the right direction.
