Sen. Bam to DBM: Help gov't workers cope with rising oil prices, release salary hike immediately

Sen. Bam Aquino sees the expected hike in oil prices for the third straight week as another reason for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to immediately release the fourth tranche of the salary increase for government workers.

"Ngayong tataas na naman sa ikatlong sunod na linggo ang presyo ng produktong petrolyo, dapat ilabas na rin ng pamahalaan sa lalong madaling panahon ang umento sa sahod ng mga manggagawa sa gobyerno," said Sen. Bam.

"Malaking tulong ang dagdag-sahod sa ating mga manggagawa sa pamahalaan para kayanin ang inaasahang epekto ng pagtaas sa presyo ng langis sa halaga ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin," added Sen. Bam.

Oil companies are expected to raise price of diesel by 30 to 40 centavos per liter, 10 centavos per liter for gasoline and 10 to 20 centavos per liter for kerosene on Tuesday.

On Jan. 15, oil firms implemented a big-time price hike, increasing by P1.40 per liter for gasoline, P2.30 per liter for diesel and P2.00 per liter for kerosene due to increase in world crude prices. On Jan. 8, price of diesel increased by 70 centavos, gasoline by 80 centavos and kerosene by 40 centavos.

Earlier, Sen. Bam urged the DBM to use the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) for the fourth and final part of the salary hike for government workers under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

The senator even submitted Resolution No. 982 expressing the sense of the Senate that the DBM should use the MPBF to pay the final part of the salary hike for government workers.

In addition, Sen. Bam has been calling on the government to suspend the implementation of second part of excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law to help lower price of petroleum products.

In line with this, Sen. Bam filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018, seeking to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once the country's inflation rate exceeds the government's target for three straight months.

"Tumataas na ang presyo ng langis sa world market, tapos papatungan mo pa ng dagdag na buwis. Kawawa naman ang mga Pilipino, lalo na ang mahihirap, na nalulunod na sa mataas na halaga ng bilihin," said Sen. Bam.