Press Release
May 21, 2008

PALACE MUST HEED GROWING MASS OF SUPPORT FOR OIL VAT SUSPENSION WELCOMES SUPPORT OF HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
CHAIR REP. JAVIER

Senator Mar Roxas said that the Palace must heed the growing mass of support for the suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil.

"The clamor for immediate relief is getting louder and louder as the prices of food, oil and other basic needs is getting higher and higher. It's clearer that now is the time for the President to heed this call," he said.

"The disposable incomes of our people continue to shrink due to the high cost of food, oil, energy and their other daily needs. If we don't heed this cry for immediate relief, our economy is in danger of slowing down," he stressed.

Roxas said this, as he welcomed the expression of support to the proposal by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier, and his announcement that he will soon begin hearings on such.

"We now have the ways and means committee chairmen of both House and Senate in favor of immediate relief for our countrymen. I ask my other colleagues to have an open mind and consider this proposal, for the sake of our consumers," he added.

Roxas noted that Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, a fellow Liberal stalwart, has already filed a counterpart to Roxas' bill, House Bill No. 3390, now pending action at Javier's committee. Roxas said the Senate cannot move until the House passes the bill on third reading, as required by the constitution.

The Liberal Party President said instead of keeping consumers guessing as to how oil VAT revenues will be used to help them cope with skyrocketing prices, the government should instead give them immediate relief by "giving back the money that they borrowed from the people."

"Parang noong ipinasa yung VAT, sabi nila gagamitin ang kita sa edukasyon, sa kalusugan, at sa kung anu-ano pa, pero hindi naman naipakita na dito nga napunta. Ganoon din ngayon, sasabihing pang-cash transfer sa mga tsuper, pang-subsidize ng kuryente, pambili ng bigas, at iba pa, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring plano," added.

"Hindi dapat ipagdamot ng gobyerno ang kita nito sa VAT sa langis, dahil hindi naman nila pera ito eh. Pera ito ng taumbayan, na higit nilang kailangan ngayon para sa pang-araw-araw nilang pangangailangan," he said.

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