House passes bill authorizing President to halt fuel excise tax

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has endorsed a bill that would empower the President to temporarily remove or cut excise taxes on petroleum products during emergencies or when world oil prices climb significantly.

The proposal secured approval on third and final reading after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tagged it as urgent.

Voting results showed 247 lawmakers supporting the measure, while three voted against it.

If enacted, the bill would allow the President to exercise the authority based on the recommendation of the Development Budget Coordination Committee, in consultation with the Department of Energy. This may be done if the average price of Dubai crude hits at least $80 per barrel over a one-month period, or if a national emergency or calamity triggers exceptional increases in local fuel prices.

The measure states that any tax relief may remain in place for as long as six months per implementation, although the total allowable period cannot go beyond one year.

It also provides that the authority granted to the President would expire on December 31, 2028.

Supporters of the bill said the measure would give the government more room to respond to sudden fuel price surges and help cushion the impact on consumers.