Manila Mayor Isko Moreno holds a dialogue with farmers and residents during a town hall meeting in Barangay Banaba, Tarlac City yesterday. (Photo from Philstar) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] TARLAC CITY: Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday urged the national government to lower the excise tax on electricity and petroleum products as this will translate into immediate and tangible economic relief for ordinary Filipinos, particularly farmers, fishermen, and public utility vehicle drivers and operators.
Moreno made the call during a town hall meeting in Barangay Banaba here, where he met 100 farmers and agricultural workers to listen to their problems and suggestions on how to increase income and productivity. He said that, if elected president next year, he is committed to cutting the excise tax on petroleum products by 50 percent as this would directly benefit the poor and the middle class who have been at the receiving end of the weekly price increases of crude oil. Moreno also plans for a 50-percent tax break on electricity to benefit consumers and business enterprises.
“To cushion the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, a 50-percent reduction in fuel excise tax can lower the power generation cost and another 50-percent cut on taxes on electricity would mean savings for the majority of our people, many of whom are jobless now due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. He noted that the positive effects of a tax cut on fuel would be immediately felt by operators and drivers of PUVs.