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Senator Bam Aquino Urges Fuel Tax Suspension
Call for Fuel Tax Suspension and Related Bill Introduction
Philippine Senator Bam Aquino recently made a strong call for the Marcos administration to suspend the imposition of fuel taxes. Senator Aquino explained that while the 2017 TRAIN Law originally contained a provision to automatically suspend fuel taxes when world oil prices reached $80 per barrel, this clause was only valid for three years and has since expired. Consequently, he has filed a new bill (SBN 1923) that would grant the President the authority to suspend fuel taxes during national and international emergencies. This aims to prevent the domino effect of soaring prices caused by rising fuel costs.
Necessity and Expected Effects of Fuel Tax Reduction
Senator Aquino emphasized the importance of proactive government measures to prevent the increase in gasoline and diesel prices from leading to price hikes for all essential goods. He stated, “The government often reacts too late,” and argued that the bill should be swiftly passed to allow for an immediate suspension of taxes when fuel prices surge. He specifically expressed concern for and advocated for the protection of public transport drivers, including jeepney drivers, tricycle drivers, and PUV drivers, who would be directly impacted by rising fuel costs. He recalled the precedent of government subsidies provided to drivers during the 2020 pandemic, urging that such support be reinstated in the current situation.
Addressing Revenue Loss Concerns and Emphasizing Anti-Corruption Efforts
Addressing concerns raised by some about potential revenue loss, Senator Aquino countered that the priority should be the proper use of government's public funds and the eradication of corruption. He pointed out that trillions of pesos have recently been lost to corruption, an amount far greater than any potential revenue loss from suspending fuel taxes. Therefore, he argued that breaking these corruption links and preventing budget leakages would allow more funds to be allocated to services. He added that exempting fuel from taxes would prevent a decrease in drivers' take-home pay and ultimately alleviate the inflationary shock that all citizens would experience.
*Source: YouTube: ABS-CBN News (2026-03-04)*
