President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2019. (Photo from an RTVM video)
MANILA, Philippines — Don’t be “so sad about being taxed,” President Rodrigo Duterte told the public on Wednesday, a day after he approved the proposal for the government to proceed with the second round of fuel excise tax hikes in 2019.
“Do not be so sad about being taxed because your money here during my term is safe. I will not allow corruption. I have fired so many Cabinet members for just an infraction,” he said in a speech during the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas in Malacañang.
On Tuesday, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the President had approved the fuel tax hike starting next month.
READ: Duterte approves 2nd round of fuel excise tax hike in 2019
Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, an additional levy of P2.24 per liter would be imposed for diesel and gasoline starting Jan. 1, 2019.
The additional duty consists of P2 excise tax and 24 centavos value-added tax (VAT).
TRAIN has been blamed for the inflation in the country, which hit a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September and October this year.
Inflation eased to a to a four-month low of 6 percent in November, making it the the lowest since the 5.7-percent recorded in July. /atm