It is for Congress to decide on TRAIN Law suspension —Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Saturday that it was for Congress to decide on what action to take on the tax reform law known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

"Well, the law was enacted by Congress. I leave it to Congress to decide whether or not to amend, or suspend, or modify the law," said Duterte, who was at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on his way to an official visit to South Korea.

The President explained that he wished to keep the TRAIN Law because government needed the revenue for its infrastructure program, but if Congress decided otherwise, he was helpless to do anything about it.

"Kung sabihin naman nila (Congress) na we just have to bite the bullet, wala naman ako magawa kung 'yun ang decision nila," he added.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law reduced personal income tax rates but raised the excise tax on petroleum products and automobiles, and imposed a levy on sugar-sweetened beverages.

However, the recent increase in petroleum products prices prompted calls for the suspension of the TRAIN Law, which imposed an excise tax of P2.50 per liter on diesel and raised the levy on gasoline to P7 from P4.35 per liter. —DVM/KG, GMA News