The Makabayan bloc has denounced the Marcos Jr. administration’s proposed P10-per-liter fuel subsidy, branding it a “consuelo de bobo” that fails to provide genuine relief to transport workers and commuters amid soaring oil prices.
Lawmakers warned that the government appears to have abandoned any plan to suspend excise taxes on petroleum, opting instead for a limited subsidy scheme that prioritizes preserving tax revenues over easing the burden on the public.
Under the plan, drivers would receive a subsidy capped at 150 liters per week—amounting to roughly P1,500 weekly or P6,000 monthly per jeepney. Spread across daily operations, this translates to about P300 per day per unit, which transport groups say is grossly inadequate against rising fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and the ripple effects on food, electricity, and household budgets.
“Krisis ang kaharap ng mamamayan, hindi puwedeng token subsidy o consuelo de bobo ang sagot. Binabarat ang mga tsuper at operator, habang pinananatili ang dambuhalang koleksyon sa buwis sa langis,” the bloc said, citing IBON Foundation’s estimate that oil firms reaped P47 billion in windfall revenues as of March 2026.
Even by government’s own formula, the fiscal cost of the subsidy remains modest. With an estimated fleet size, the program would cost about P1.2 to P1.3 billion monthly, or P4.8 to P5.2 billion over four months—far smaller than the billions collected from excise taxes and VAT while pump prices remain high.
Makabayan stressed that the administration’s priority is clear: safeguarding “excessive” revenue collections rather than delivering substantial relief. The bloc reiterated that oil excise taxes and VAT are regressive, disproportionately punishing the poor and working class who rely on public transport and small-scale operations to sustain daily life.
The group called for decisive measures: suspension and rollback of oil excise taxes, expanded direct aid to transport workers and small operators, and stronger regulation against profiteering in a deregulated oil market.
“Hindi dapat gawing cash cow ang krisis. Hindi dapat ipambili ng propaganda at patronage ang buwis na galing sa bawat patak ng langis na binabayaran ng mamamayan,” the bloc declared.
Makabayan concluded that genuine relief requires more than token subsidies: “Kailangang ginhawa ang ihatid, hindi limos na pang-press release. Kailangan ng tunay na tulong sa kabuhayan, hindi pakitang-taong programa para mapanatili ang sobrang koleksyon ng buwis.” # (ZIA LUNA)
