Senator Erwin Tulfo on Sunday urged that the proposed suspension of excise taxes cover gasoline fuel as well as diesel to make the measure more inclusive for motorcycle riders, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s certification of the bill as urgent.
Tulfo raised the issue during a Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing, noting that around 8.5 million Filipinos rely on motorcycles for daily transportation and livelihood, most of which run on gasoline.
“They use gasoline, so we cannot limit the suspension of the excise tax to diesel. What will happen to them if gasoline is not included?” he said.
Department of Finance Undersecretary Karlo Adriano said the Development Budget Coordination Committee and the Department of Energy would consider the proposal as part of their recommendation to the president to ensure a comprehensive approach to the measure.
Tulfo also warned against political interference in the distribution of fuel subsidies, stressing that safeguards must be enforced.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, the lawmaker said officials who attempt to take advantage of the crisis for political gain should face penalties.
“The money being distributed does not come from the pockets of politicians. It comes from the taxes of the people, so there should be no political interference in its distribution,” he said.
The neophyte senator earlier pushed for provisions in the 2026 General Appropriations Act prohibiting politicians from participating in the distribution of government assistance.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government later reinforced the policy through Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006, which also bans the placement of officials’ names or images on government projects.
To institutionalize the policy, Tulfo refiled the proposed Anti-Epal Act under Senate Bill No. 1750 in February, which seeks to bar incumbent officials and candidates from directly participating in the distribution of government financial assistance.
