Poe to look into effects of tax reform law on fuel, utilities in Mindanao

Sen. Grace Poe (Photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

Senator Grace Poe would like to find out the effects of the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law on transportation, fuel, electricity, and water.

In a public hearing set on July 18 in Cagayan de Oro City, Poe would also want to know about the government’s plan in the distribution of fuel vouchers to jeepney drivers, which was among the measures provided under the tax reform law to help citizens cope with soaring prices.

Further, Poe said her committee intends to tackle issues such as the government’s unconditional cash transfer program, and rising cost of LPG in the hearing, which will be held at the University of Science and Technology Southern Philippines in Lapasan.

Poe is the chairperson of Senate Committee on Public Services.

“Gusto nating malaman kung paano ipamamahagi ‘yung mga voucher na ibibigay sa mga operator ng public utility jeep, yung mga tulong para sa pagtaas ng gasolina, ang pagdagdag ng apat na milyong pamilya pa sa unconditional cash transfer program ng gobyerno,” she said.

According to Poe’s office, those invited to attend the hearing were Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Energy Seretary Alfonso Cusi; Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and Vice Mayor Raineir Uy; and Mindanao transport leaders, among others.

To recall, Poe has previously acalled the attention of key Cabinet members on the release or implementation of fuel vouchers, fare discounts and rice subsidies to low-income earners, and financial aid to poor families and indigent senior citizens.

“Kailangang marinig naman natin ang daing nila at kung totoo ba ang pangako ng DOTr na magbibigay na sila ng subsidiya o kung ‘di pa nila natatanggap, lalung-lalo na sa mga drivers natin diyan sa Mindanao. Ang importante ay ang pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan ngayon,” Poe noted.

Moreover, Poe plans to discuss the franchise applications of local broadcast stations from Mindanao and measures seeking to create district offices of the Land Transportation Office in the region. Syrah Vivien Inocencio, INQUIRER.net intern                     /kga