VP claims she warned about rice shortages last year

Bacolod City SP wants excise taxes suspended

Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday claimed she warned the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte about signs of an impending rice shortage last year and regarding rice importation as a method of combating inflation.

Robredo, who served as keynote speaker for the Negros Occidental Small Fishers Alliance Provincial Congress at the Business Inn in Bacolod City, said the administration did not heed her advice.

The vice president added, the administration is blaming fuel prices for hikes in rice prices, but she said it is “one of many factors.”

“We have neighboring countries [that] have also encountered oil price hikes, but their inflation did not even rise substantially compared to us,” Robredo explained.

She added, the administration is

neglecting the difficulties encountered throughout the country, saying, some are worried about being able to feed their families.

Robredo said numerous resolutions have been filed seeking to address the problem, including calls to suspend excise taxes on fuel and expediting the release of unconditional cash transfer entitlements.

She also believes fisherfolk should be eligible for the said entitlements.

Duterte, meanwhile, is reportedly considering the suspension of excise taxes on oil products, but it can only be done if global oil prices hit $80 per barrel for three consecutive months.

The current inflation rate is 6.7 percent.

Recently, the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a resolution calling on the Senate and the House of Representatives to suspend excise taxes, particularly those on fuel and oil products.

The policy, penned by Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito, pointed to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law for the spike in inflation, which was last recorded at 6.7 percent.

“The Senate and the House of Representatives, as the bastion of the people's welfare, have to take necessary action by coming up [with] measures or suspend the imposition of the excise tax, particularly on fuel,” the resolution read./DGB,

(Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga photo) Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday claimed she warned the Duterte administration about signs of an impending rice shortage last year.

Malihan photo) (Richard A total P2 million were turned over for projects in Sagay City, Cadiz City, Hinigaran, and La Castellana at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol yesterday. Among the projects the allocation will fund include improving and expanding a water system, building a fence, acquiring a dump truck, and renovating a barangay hall. Provincial Board Members Salvador Escalante, Jr. (third from left) and Alain Gatuslao (right) were present for the turnover.