Camille Naredo

Fuel prices are displayed at a gasoline station in Quezon City on April 7, following another round of fuel price hikes. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Fuel prices are displayed at a gasoline station in Quezon City on April 7, following another round of fuel price hikes. Oil companies raised gasoline prices by as much as P5.90 per liter and diesel by up to P19.80 per liter, marking one of the largest increases in recent weeks. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

OIL PRICE HIKE

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177624289714320260407-oil-price-hike-quezon-city-MT7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Fuel prices are displayed at a gasoline station in Quezon City on April 7, following another round of fuel price hikes. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Fuel prices are displayed at a gasoline station in Quezon City on April 7, following another round of fuel price hikes. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- Flagging an alleged “disconnect” in information presented by the Department of Finance (DOF) on fuel excise tax suspension, lawmakers questioned the agency over data on the economic classes seen to be affected by the cut and the timeline for implementation.During a Legislative Energy Action and Development (LEAD) joint committee hearing on Wednesday, DOF Undersecretary Karlo Adriano said transport sectors, which include households, consume 66.4 percent of diesel.And out of this 66.4 percent, the top three deciles or classes in terms of financial status use 85 percent of the diesel.“You tell us you cannot implement it immediately. You’re waiting for the IRR, etcetera. But the LPG industry has said they can implement it the following day. So there’s a disconnect… Ngayon lang namin nadidinig ‘yan– itong mga data pagdating sa that it favors the rich,” House Ways and Means Committee Chair Miro Quimbo told the DOF regarding fuel excise tax suspension.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/14/customs-says-to-lose-over-p400-million-in-excise-tax-collections-per-month-1627">READ: Customs says to lose over P400 million in excise tax collections per month</a></div>Valeriano also accused economic managers of possibly giving the president inaccurate information on the situation on the ground on purpose, citing the data presented on fuel use among various deciles.“Tingin ko hindi grounded ‘yung mga economic managers natin or they really intentionally misinform the Malacañang or the president in regards to the situation dito po sa baba,” Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano said.&quot;Nagkakagulo na po ang tao. Mayroon na pong nagra-rally, and still ‘di ko alam kung saan nila kinukuha ang data nila na ang makikinabang lang daw ay ang mayaman or whatever,&quot; Valeriano added.Gabriela party-list Representative Sarah Elago also questioned the DOF over “highly misleading” information due to varying amounts mentioned in reference to the impact of fuel excise tax suspension.“Nagiging highly misleading at masyado po ang pinapalaki ‘yung revenue losses para sa panakot na mawawalan ng pondo ‘yung mga ayuda at ‘yung mga targeted subsidies na nais po natin ipahatid,” Elago said.Adriano clarified he was talking about collection in 2025 for diesel and gasoline when he talked about a P150-billion impact.Meanwhile, the amount of P100 billion referred to the effect of suspending excise tax on all kinds of fuel for the remaining eight months of 2026.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/13/marcos-cuts-excise-tax-on-lpg-kerosene-1612">READ: Marcos suspends excise taxes on LPG, kerosene</a></div>Adriano also pointed out the middle class would be affected by a tax cut as this would impact funding for aid or “ayuda.”“Kung mawawala po ‘yung taxes natin, mawawalan din po tayo ng ayuda na puwede po mabigay sa ating mga kababayan, particularly sa middle income classes,” Adriano said in response.Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste also called the DOF’s analysis on who would benefit from the tax cuts highly inaccurate, saying tax relief is the most efficient way to help. “Maling mali ang analysis ng DOF na ang mayayaman at middle class lang ang makikinabang dito. Lahat po ay makikinabang. At sabi nga ng iba– anong masama kung ang middle class ay makikinabang? Sila naman ay nagbabayad ng mas malaking buwis, lalo na sa income taxes. Kaya makatarungan lang at mas eficiente kung para sa lahat na lang ang tax relief. Kasi kung kailangan pang piliin sino ang makikinabang, ang mga pulitiko naman ang pipili. Hindi naman lahat ng mga Pilipino ay mabibigyan,” Leviste told reporters.<div> </div><div>CALL FOR DIESEL, GAS EXCISE TAX SUSPENSION</div>Cagayan De Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez also appealed to the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to suspend excise taxes on diesel and gasoline.Rodriguez expressed disappointment over the executive’s recent action on applying the suspension on just kerosene and LPG.“Let me express my disappointment with the action of the executive. We, in the House, already has approved and the Senate this law which grants him the power to suspend excise taxes… I appeal to the DBCC, the economic managers. Economic managers are concerned about getting more money from taxes to the government. And that is for what? To be given to the people. The ayuda. Why won’t you just suspend excise tax– gasoline and diesel, and help everyone?” Rodriguez asked.The DOF also said during the hearing it is still considering the suspension of excise taxes on diesel and gasoline.According to Quimbo, Filipinos in the middle class are “one major crisis away from falling below the poverty line” in reference to the fuel price increase due to the conflict in the Middle East or West Asia.“If this continues, many will struggle just to get by. Nakita natin na habang may sapat tayong fuel supply ngayon, ang tunay na problema ay affordability… At sa gitna nito ay may isang sektor na hindi natin maaaring kalimutan– ang middle class. Ito ang sektor na kadalasang hindi saklaw ng ayuda kahit sila&#x27;y nalulunod din sa pagtaas ng bilihin. They are one major crisis away from falling below the poverty line,” Quimbo said.

Flagging an alleged “disconnect” in information presented by the Department of Finance (DOF) on fuel excise tax suspension, lawmakers questioned the agency over data on the economic classes seen to be affected by the cut and the timeline for implementation.

Flagging an alleged “disconnect” in information presented by the Department of Finance (DOF) on fuel excise tax suspension, lawmakers questioned the agency over data on the economic classes seen to be affected by the cut and the timeline for implementation.

DOF called out over ‘disconnect’ in data on classes seen to be affected by fuel excise tax cut

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DOF called out over ‘disconnect’ in data on classes seen to be affected by fuel excise tax cut

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 15, 2026 04:49 PM PHT

Read More:

fuel

prices

Middle East

House of Representatives

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