President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is open to reviewing proposals to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law and remove the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel imports even as authorities are prioritizing immediate measures to cushion the impact of rising oil prices.
In a chance interview on Friday, Mr. Marcos said no options are being ruled out as the government assesses ways to mitigate the effects of global oil price volatility driven by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
“Well,as I said before, nothing is being discounted. That is to mean everything that can be done so that we have something we can do to lessen the impact of this ongoing war in the Middle East – these are all being discussed,” he said.
However, the President acknowledged that policy changes such as amending or repealing the Oil Deregulation Law would require extensive discussions and may take time to implement.
He underscored the government’s effort to balance short-term relief with potential long-term policy adjustments in the energy sector.
“We would love to amend the Oil Deregulation, but there’s still a lot of discussion around that. I don’t know when it will be done, so right now we’re focused on the immediate—what we can do immediately,” he added.
He said the administration is currently focused on delivering urgent assistance to the public, particularly measures that can be rolled out quickly to ease the burden of high fuel costs.
“Whatever help we can deliver immediately to the people—that’s what we’re doing, that’s what we’re thinking about right now,” he said.
As this developed, local oil companies have expressed support for a temporary suspension of the VAT on petroleum products at the point of importation, saying it could help bring down pump prices more quickly.
The proposal was raised during a hearing on Thursday of the Senate Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee, which is monitoring the government’s response to the national energy emergency.
The VAT relief measure was discussed alongside a recently enacted law allowing the President to temporarily suspend or reduce excise taxes on fuel to cushion the impact of rising global oil prices.
Senator Bam Aquino urged the Department of Finance to compute the fiscal and consumer impact of suspending VAT and assess how it could complement excise tax relief.
Tanya Samillano, representing small oil players, said removing VAT at importation would prevent it from being embedded in the cost base, allowing for immediate price reductions.
Representatives from Shell Philippines and Petron said the proposal is technically feasible and can be implemented quickly.
“According to the industry, it can be done. They will not have difficulty removing the VAT at the point of entry… help us compute and see the possible assistance this could provide to our fellow citizens,” Aquino said.
For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is coordinating with local government units for the rollout of the electric “Love Bus” Program, which aims to provide free rides and improve urban mobility in the National Capital Region.
During initial talks on Thursday, officials discussed a proposed route linking Makati, Quezon City, and Pasig.
The “Love Bus,” expected to launch in late April or early May, will have a capacity of 30 passengers per unit. Ten units will initially be deployed, each making five to six trips daily.
Approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the routes will cover key areas in eastern Metro Manila.
Eastbound routes will stop at Robinsons Galleria, Estancia Mall, MMDA, Arcovia, Opus Mall, Arcovia Mall, and Eastwood City.
Westbound routes will stop at Eastwood City, C5–Eastwood Footbridge, C5–Green Meadows Footbridge, C5–Green Meadows Gate, Tiendesitas, C5–Julia Vargas, MMDA, Estancia Mall, and Robinsons Galleria.
The service is planned to run daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., depending on passenger demand, with possible expansion to other areas in Metro Manila.
The program revives the “Love Bus” concept first introduced in the 1970s during the term of former First Lady Imelda Marcos as Metro Manila’s governor.
The MMDA is also considering carpooling and company-based shuttle service schemes to ease commuter difficulties, reduce fuel consumption and improve traffic conditions in Metro Manila.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes has sought approval from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to allow privately owned vehicles to temporarily operate as shuttle services without a franchise, subject to a Special Permit.
The proposal aims to provide immediate relief to commuters affected by rising fuel costs, encourage ridesharing to cut the number of private vehicles on the road, help businesses ensure worker mobility, and contribute to traffic decongestion and fuel efficiency.
The MMDA said the operations would be limited to employee transport and will be non-profit in nature.
As this developed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said it will restart distributing financial assistance to public utility vehicle (PUV) and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers outside of Metro Manila on April 8.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, said during the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel forum, said priority will be given to high-density areas in the Greater Manila Area, including Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
The DSWD held its first payout round on March 25, reaching over 13,000 of 23,643 target beneficiaries across NCR, mostly jeepney drivers.
“We will not leave anyone behind,” Gatchalian said.
He said the DSWD has also convened transport network companies (TNCs) and government agencies to address gaps in the payout of cash assistance to TNVS drivers.
Gatchalian led the meeting at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City, with representatives from the LTFRB and major TNCs, including Grab, Move It, inDrive, Lalamove, Maxim, JoyRide, Angkas and PureRide.
Gatchalian cited the need for TNCs to submit complete and accurate rosters, including “temporary” or “tempo” drivers, to ensure all qualified beneficiaries are covered.
Officials noted that Grab and inDrive have the highest number of issues during the payout.
