To curb the surging fuel prices across the country, former Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos suggested the suspension of tax components on fuel prices for three months.
"Palagay ko, may mga special groups naman na focused groups na pinag-aaralan ito pero very easily sa tingin ko alisin muna yung tax component sa price ng langis," Orbos told DZRH in an interview.
(For my, there are special groups, focused groups that are studying it. But very easily, I think we can remove the tax component of fuel prices.)
"Tingin ko mas makakaapekto po agad-agad at maganda po ang pakinabang ng ating mga kababayan directly kung ito po'y tatanggalin natin," he added.
(I think this will have an immediate effect and it will benefit Filipinos directly.)
He made the suggestion despite previous criticism that suspending taxes on fuel could cost the government millions.
For Orbos, that fiscal repercussion could be covered later on.
"I'm sure na merong fiscal, economic repercussions ito pero tignan po muna natin yung kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan," he said. "And immediately, ito po ang magbibigay ng solusyon, gagaan po ang kanilang pagdadala sa kanilang buhay."
(I’m sure that there are fiscal, economic repercussions, but let us first look at the livelihoods of Filipinos. And immediately, it will give us a solution, it will reduce the burden on them.)
He also suggested the suspension of tax components on fuel for just three months, even if the government cannot predict the volatile fuel market due to global factors.
"After three months, mag-scramble ulit tayo," he said. "Tapos na yung election, now we will be more concerned about recovery."
(After three months, let us scramble again. The elections would be over, now we will be more concerned about recovery.)
"Three months, then we will look at it again. Malay mo, baka less than three months gaganda 'yung sitwayson sa buong mundo, eh di mangolekta ulit tayo."
(Three months, then we will look at it again. Who know, maybe in less than three months the situation across the world would improve, then we could collect taxes again.)
Various government officials have called for the suspension of excise tax on fuel to prevent prices from further surging, but the government has opted to provide fuel subsidy for drivers to alleviate the impact of fuel costs on consumers.
