Party-list group pushes for special House sessions to address oil price hike
CONGRESS should hold special sessions to address the spike in oil prices, said Anakpawis Party-list on Monday, citing its impact on the livelihood and income of poor sectors such as drivers, fisherfolk and farmers.
“We urge the incumbent lawmakers to decisively carry out the patriotic act of serving the interests of people: to repeal the excise tax and VAT (value added tax) provisions on oil products; and to totally repeal the Oil Deregulation Law,” Anakpawis National President Ariel B. Casilao said.
Congress will resume sessions on May 23 to June 3.
Mr. Casilao called the oil price hikes “baseless” as these do not jibe with the Ukraine crisis and movements in Dubai crude oil prices.
Oil companies are set to decrease prices on Tuesday, with gasoline by 40 centavos per liter, diesel by P3.10, and kerosene by P2.10.
He noted that excise tax and VAT imposes an additional cost of P13 to P17 per liter on gasoline and diesel products.
Mr. Casilao also pushed for local governments to provide P10,000 financial aid to affected sectors to enhance productivity.
“We appeal to the local governments to take on the noble task of aiding their affected constituents to avoid the catastrophic crisis of displacement and unemployment, and its consequence of worsened poverty and hunger of poor families,” he said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
