Sen. Bam to gov't: Huwag ipagkait ang diskuwento sa bigas sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law

In addition to the unconditional cash transfer and the Pantawid Pasada programs, Sen. Bam Aquino said the government has yet to fully roll out another social mitigating measure under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Under the TRAIN Law, Sen. Bam said the government is mandated to provide poor families 10-percent discount when they purchase National Food Authority (NFA) rice from accredited retail stores, up to a maximum of 20 kilos per month.

"Sa totoo lang, may utang ang gobyerno sa mga mahihirap dahil hindi ipinatupad ang mga mitigating measures ng TRAIN Law, lalo na ang diskwento sa bigas," said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

"Kailangang bayaran ng gobyerno ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan na pinagkaitan nila ng tulong sa bigas," Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the government should give poor Filipinos an additional P200 per month to cover for the rice discount.

When the TRAIN Law was being deliberated in the Senate, Sen. Bam urged the government to implement the social mitigating measures and the TRAIN Law at the same time.

However, concerned government officials said they cannot implement it together due to lack of proper infrastructure, forcing Sen. Bam to vote against the ratification of the measure.

Now, Sen. Bam renewed his call for full and immediate implementation of the social mitigating measures to alleviate the suffering of the Filipino people, especially the poor, on the high prices of goods due to the TRAIN Law.

"Dapat agad nang ipatupad ng pamahalaan ang lahat ng social protection measures na nakasaad sa batas para mabawasan ang hirap na dinaranas dahil sa TRAIN Law," said Sen, Bam.

Sen. Bam is pushing for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill, which aims to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

The senator underscored the need to immediately pass the bill into law since there is a scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.