By Mario B. Casayuran, Chino S. Leyco, and Charissa M. Luci Senate Minority Leader Ralph G. Recto asked Malacañang yesterday to study the impact of fuel tax on the price of rice and fish after it announced its plan to increase the excise tax on gasoline from P4.35 to P10 per liter as part of its proposed tax package. In selling its tax proposals, the Duterte administration should attach exemptions and safety nets on each, so that a skeptical public would at least give it a fair hearing of its explanations, Recto said. But the Department of Finance (DOF) was quick to allay fears by saying that the proposed increase in fuel taxes would not severely affect poor households as more than half of the country’s oil supplies are consumed by affluent families. To further alleviate any subsequent effects of higher fuel prices on consumer goods and services, the finance [...]
