By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains firm in seeking a balance between addressing rising fuel prices and protecting commuters from their impact as the country continues to feel the effects of the Middle East crisis, Malacañang said Tuesday.
“Noon pa naman ang gusto ng Pangulo ay balansyado. Tumaas man ang presyo ng krudo ay hindi naman masyadong mararamdaman ng ating mga commuters (The President’s position has always been that there should be a balance. Even if fuel prices increase, our commuters should not feel the impact too heavily),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
Castro said the government is focused on providing assistance to affected sectors, particularly transport workers, to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.
She cited various assistance and relief measures being provided amid the continuing tensions in the Middle East, including fuel discounts, free expressway tolls for buses, and targeted subsidies for transport groups through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Castro assured the public that government interventions would continue, stressing that increases in fuel and food prices are “beyond the government’s control.”
“Hindi pa po dito iyan magtatapos, so hinahanda po ng Pangulo ang maaari pang mangyari dahil hindi po talaga natin kontrolado ang nangyayari sa Middle East (This will not end here. The President is preparing for what may happen next because we really cannot control what is happening in the Middle East),” she said.
Fuel tax relief
Asked whether the President has already decided on the proposed reduction or suspension of excise taxes on fuel products, Castro said the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) is still evaluating the proposal as pump prices surge beyond the thresholds set by law.
She said Marcos will act promptly once the recommendation reaches his table.
“Kung kinakailangan po talaga, ito naman po ay agad-agad na aaksyunan ng Pangulo (If this is truly necessary, the President will act on it immediately),” she said.
The Department of Energy has formally certified that the one-month average price of Dubai crude reached USD99.41 per barrel from Aug. 13 to Sept. 11, well above the USD80-per-barrel threshold under Republic Act 12316 for the possible suspension or reduction of fuel taxes.
Under RA 12316, the President may, upon the recommendation of the DBCC and in coordination with the Energy Secretary, suspend or reduce excise taxes on specified petroleum products when the one-month average Dubai crude price reaches or exceeds USD80 per barrel. The relief may be granted for up to three months per instance.
EDSA Busway
Castro also expressed optimism that Congress will provide funding for the EDSA Busway, warning that more than 60 million commuters relying on the service could be affected if it receives no budget in 2027.
She stressed that Marcos supports the continued implementation of the initiative.
“Sa katunayan, sa SONA (State of the Nation Address) ng Pangulo, nabanggit ng Pangulo ang kahalagahan ng EDSA Busway. Ang Pangulo po, kung ano po ang mas makakagaan sa pasanin ng ating mga kababayan, hindi po naman niya iyan tututulan (In fact, during the President’s SONA, he highlighted the importance of the EDSA Busway. The President will not oppose measures that would help ease the burden on our fellow Filipinos),” she said.
The Department of Transportation is seeking a PHP1.756-billion allocation for the EDSA Busway, also known as the EDSA Carousel, which uses dedicated lanes along EDSA and serves as a key public transportation service for commuters traveling across Metro Manila. (PNA)
