Senate committee to hold public hearing on TRAIN in Albay

To bring the discussions about the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law closer to the people, the Senate Committee on Public Services will conduct another public hearing outside Manila, this time in Legazpi City, Albay.

Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the committee, said the hearing on Friday will tackle the alleged effects of the TRAIN law on public services especially transportation, fuel, electricity, and water.

“Tumaas na ng four percent ang ating inflation rate, tapos may prediction na early July magkakaroon na ng six-percent inflation. Napakalaki at napakataas na,” Poe said in a statement.

“Halos P3,000 ang dagdag gastos ng manggagawa kada buwan dahil sa epekto ng TRAIN at dahil din sa pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo,” the senator added.

In last week’s public hearing in Iloilo, Poe’s panel recommended the suspension of the additional excise tax on petroleum products to Department of Finance (DOF).

Poe said those invited to this week’s hearing at the Albay Provincial Capitol are Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III , Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi Socio-Economic Planing Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Martin Delgra III, and Land Trasportation Office Chief Edgar Galvante.

Local officials such as Representatives Joey Salceda (Albay 2nd district) and Luis Raymond Villafuerte Jr. (Camarines Sur 2nd district), Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Sorsogon Governor Robert Lee Rodrigueza, Albay Vice-Governor Harold Imperial were also invited as resource persons in the hearing.

Representatives from Kilusang Mayo Uno, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide will talk about the current state of life in the Bicol region.

Poe, for her part, does not think that increasing workers’ salaries would be enough to cover all additional expenses.

“Ilang oras ang idadagdag nila sa kanilang trabaho para mapunuan nila ang dagdag gastos na iyon,” she said.

“Unless magkaroon din sila ng increase sa kanilang sweldo…hindi naman nagma-match ang increase ng sweldo doon sa increase ng presyo ng bilihin,” the senator added. /vvp