Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The House of Representatives is open to coordinating with the Senate to study and possibly amend the law to give the President enough powers to lower excise tax during a fuel price surge, according to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.In a statement, Dy also said they are one with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the goal of protecting Filipinos against the impact of a fuel price increase in the global market, citing “uncertainty in the Middle East.”“Kung lalampas sa 80 dolyar kada bariles ang presyo ng Dubai crude, malinaw na mararamdaman ito ng ating mga kababayan—sa pamasahe, sa presyo ng pagkain, at sa iba pang pangunahing bilihin. Kaya bukas ang Kamara na makipag-ugnayan sa Senado upang pag-aralan at, kung kinakailangan, amyendahan ang batas upang mabigyan ang Pangulo ng sapat na kapangyarihan na maibaba ang excise tax sa mga panahong may matinding pagtaas sa presyo ng langis,” Dy said in a statement.“Kasabay nito, suportado rin natin ang panawagan na ang lahat ng tanggapan ng pamahalaan ay magsagawa ng mga konkretong hakbang upang makatipid sa paggamit ng kuryente. With the uncertainty in the Middle East, everyone must contribute to energy conservation efforts,” Dy added.Marcos earlier said he was looking at a proposal to reduce excise taxes on petroleum products as oil prices surge because of the conflict in the Middle East.The chief executive vowed to discuss with House leaders the proposal for him to gain authority to reduce the tax if Dubai crude exceeds $80 per barrel.<div><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/3/marcos-mulls-subsidy-free-rides-lower-fuel-tax-as-oil-prices-surge-1146">Marcos mulls lower fuel tax as oil prices surge</a></div><div> </div><div>BILLS, RESOLUTION FILED OVER TAX SUSPENSION</div>Bills and a resolution on suspending or abolishing excise tax on petroleum products were filed on Tuesday, including one by Marikina 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo.House Bill 8257 seeks to give the chief executive power to suspend or reduce the excise tax on petroleum products during economic emergencies, amending Section 148 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997 for a conditional mechanism for suspension.Quimbo also said in a statement that Congress “must immediately pass a measure” to give the president the authority for suspension during extraordinary circumstances.“I support calls to promptly suspend excise tax on fuel to protect our consumers amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the strong possibility of rising global crude oil prices… Now is the time to prepare before prices surge further,” Quimbo said.Quezon City 4th District Representative Jesus “Bong” Suntay also filed House Bill 8244 to abolish excise tax on diesel, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, fuel oil, and unleaded gasoline oil.“Rising global oil prices translate into higher pump prices, increased transportation costs, higher electricity rates, and inflationary pressures across essential goods such as food and basic commodities… In such period of global energy crisis, it is incumbent upon the State to adopt responsive policy measures that mitigate the economic impact on the Filipino people,” the explanatory reads.Suntay also filed House Bill 8244 for an emergency oil price stabilization mechanism during global energy supply shocks, establishing automatic price-triggered suspension of excise taxes on petroleum products.Navotas Lone District Representative Tobias “Toby” Tiangco filed House Joint Resolution 4 as well requesting Marcos to suspend value-added tax (VAT) on all petroleum products while the conflict among Iran, Israel, and the United States exists.&quot;While the government has already allocated fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle drivers and operators, as well as assistance for farmers and fisherfolk, it may not be enough. It is imperative for the national government to safeguard the welfare of the Filipino people by mitigating the economic impact of volatile fuel prices,&quot; Tiangco said in a statement.Meanwhile, former congressman Carlos Isagani Zarate called for the immediate suspension of excise tax on oil “as a first line of defense” amid expected increase of pump prices.Gabriela party-list Sarah Elago also said she is pushing for the Marcos administration to scrap the excise tax and VAT on oil products, citing projections of an increase of almost P2 per liter this week for fuel prices.“Oil firms are quick to use the US-Israel-instigated conflict in the Middle East as an excuse to impose massive price hikes, while ordinary Filipinos shoulder the burden through higher transport fares, rising food prices, and increased cost of basic goods… At a time when wages remain low and inflation continues to erode household incomes, the government must act decisively. Scrapping the excise tax and VAT on oil is an urgent and concrete measure to provide immediate relief to the public,” Elago said.For AGIMAT party-list Representative Bryan Revilla, the government should study the implementation of a price freeze on basic goods amid tension in the Middle East.Revilla added, he wants the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and other agencies to implement emergency provisions in laws such as RA 7581 or the Price Act, as well as other mechanisms to protect consumers.<div> </div><div>RESOLUTION TO CONDEMN US ATTACK ON IRAN, VENEZUELA</div>House Resolution 831 condemning the United States’ attacks against Iran and Venezuela was filed by Makabayan lawmakers Elago, Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co, and ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio on Tuesday.The resolution urges the Philippine government to abrogate what it calls “unequal military agreements with the United States” after citing “acts of military aggression” from the latter country.“The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States have effectively transformed the Philippines into a forward operating base for U.S. power projection in the Asia-Pacific region,” the resolution reads.“A truly independent foreign policy, as mandated by the Philippine Constitution, requires that the Philippines extricate itself from military arrangements that subordinate national sovereignty to the strategic interests of a foreign power and that drag the country into conflicts contrary to the Filipino people’s aspirations for peace, justice, and genuine independence,” the document said.

The House of Representatives is open to coordinating with the Senate to study and possibly amend the law to give the president enough powers to lower excise tax during a fuel price surge, according to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.

The House of Representatives is open to coordinating with the Senate to study and possibly amend the law to give the president enough powers to lower excise tax during a fuel price surge, according to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.

House open to studying proposal to give President powers to lower excise tax: Dy

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House open to studying proposal to give President powers to lower excise tax: Dy

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 04, 2026 12:43 AM PHT

Read More:

House speaker

Senate

House of Representatives

excise tax

fuel

Iran

Middle East

United States

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