Sen. Bam to gov’t: Nasaan ang malasakit sa mahihirap na Pilipino?

 Nasaan ang malasakit niyo sa taumbayan? This was Senator Bam Aquino’s reaction to Budget Secretary Ben Diokno’s pronouncement that Filipinos should not be ‘crybabies’ amid the rising prices in fuel that led to the increase in prices of goods and services. 

“Makinig naman kayo sa daing ng taumbayan na nalulunod na sa taas-presyo at nabibiktima pa ng laganap na korapsyon,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

Senator Paolo Benigno Aguirre Aquino IV at the Senate's floor.

“Kung may kaya ka, matitiis mo pa ang taas-presyo. Pero ang mga nahihirapan at hindi na nakakayanan ang bigat ng presyo, tulungan na lang natin sila sa halip na sumbatan,” the senator added.

 Sen. Bam said poor Filipinos will be at the receiving end of every increase in prices of goods and services due to a hastily approved reform.

 “Malinaw na hindi nakapaghanda ang pamahalaan para maibsan ang hirap na dulot ng TRAIN. Walang nakahandang salbabida habang marami ang nalulunod sa taas ng presyo,” added Sen. Bam. 

“Halos 7.4 milliong pamilya pa ang hindi nakakatanggap ng cash transfer na sinusumbat nila. Saan sila kukuha ng pambayad ng bilihin?”

 Sen. Bam pointed out, referring to the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law. 

Sen. Bam recently urged the Senate to address the rising prices to give relief to the poor who are already crying out for help. To strengthen safeguards against price surges, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798, which seeks to rollback of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.