Win Gatchalian: Congress may grant Marcos power to cut fuel excise taxes

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday expressed belief that Congress will give President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. emergency powers to reduce excise taxes on petroleum products amid the heightened tensions in the Middle East. 

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said that since the situation has been "unpredictable," Congress should immediately grant such powers, if requested by the President.

"Sa tingin ko dahil sa sitwasyon ngayon (I think so because of the situation now)," he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview when asked if he thinks that both chambers of Congress will grant Marcos the authority to cut fuel excise taxes. 

"Hindi naman ibig sabihin gagamitin ito. Kumbaga, naka-standby lang ito at pag-uusapan na lang namin 'yung threshold or trigger points dahil dapat mapag-usapang mabuti ito dahil ang mahalaga dito nakahanda tayo," he added. 

(It doesn't mean that it will be used. It's just there on standby and we'll just talk about the threshold or trigger points. We should discuss this carefully because what's important here is that we're ready.) 

Marcos on Tuesday said he would talk to congressional leaders to give him the authority to reduce excise taxes on petroleum products once the price of Dubai crude exceeds $80 per barrel. 

The President said this would only be an emergency measure for immediate disposal once the conflict in the region is over.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, meanwhile, said Tuesday the global price of Dubai crude was already hovering at about $79 a barrel—just a shade under the $80 mark.

"Nakikita ko 'yung dahilan kung bakit naisip ito ng Malacañang dahil nga 'yung sitwasyon sa Iran ay parang hindi ma-predict o hindi masabi kung anong mangyayari," Gatchalian said.

(I see the reason why Malacañang thought of this. It's because the situation in Iran is unpredictable and we don't know what may happen.) 

"Hopefully, hindi na lumala. Pero dahil nga sa sitwasyon at marami nang nadadamay, buong Gulf Region nadamay na, eh mas maganda na mayroon na tayong nakahandang ganitong mekanismo para hindi masaktan 'yung ating mga kababayan kapag sumipa talaga 'yung presyo ng petrolyo," he added. 

(Hopefully, it won't get any worse. But because of the situation now and that many countries are feeling the effects, it's better that we have a mechanism like this ready so that our countrymen won't be so much affected when the price of petroleum really soars.) 

Gatchalian thus urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to also immediately form an energy task force to mitigate price volatilities and ensure sufficiency of supply.

He said the National Power Corporation should be part of the task force, as it manages power generation for off-grid and missionary areas and relies heavily on diesel to operate the Small Power Utilities Group. 

In an interview on Tuesday, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said senators are set to discuss the possibility of granting the President emergency powers to reduce excise taxes on petroleum products.

Senator Imee Marcos, meanwhile, also filed proposed Resolution 333, seeking an inquiry into the energy reserves of the country and the government's mitigation efforts amid the conflict in the Middle East. 

"Nakababahala, hindi sapat ang ating mga reserba! Ang LPG hindi aabot ng isang buwan, ang gasolina wala pang dalawang buwan. Dapat may malinaw at konkretong emergency plan para maprotektahan ang ating energy security," Imee Marcos said in a statement.

(This is concerning. Our reserves are not enough—LPG will not last one month, while gasoline will last less than two months. There must be a clear and concrete emergency plan to protect our energy security.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News