Legarda: There are Bills Filed to Suspend VAT—Will the Palace Support Them?

Senator Loren Legarda on Wednesday urged Malacañang to take a clear stand on the suspension of value-added tax (VAT) on fuel, following statements that such a move requires an act of Congress.

“Hindi pwedeng sabihin ng Malacañang na walang batas. Nag-file na ako noon at nag-refile pa ako ulit ngayon, para wala nang dahilan. Ang tanong ngayon: susuportahan nyo ba? I-cecertify nyo ba na urgent? Kung hindi, malinaw na hindi ito prayoridad at ang gusto ng gobyerno ay tuloy-tuloy na buwisan […]

Legarda: Don’t tax the crisis; the problem is rising costs, not lost revenue

Senator Loren Legarda said the government should not continue taxing fuel during a time of rising oil prices and then justify it as necessary to fund assistance, stressing that relief should come from lowering costs at the source rather than collecting more from the same crisis.

The Senator emphasized that the current situation is fundamentally a cost-driven crisis, with fuel prices directly affecting agriculture, transport, and the prices of basic goods.

“Ang VAT ay buwis sa pagkonsumo ng produkto. Pero kapag petrolyo […]

Legarda calls for diesel, gas tax suspension as relief remains unfelt

Senator Loren Legarda on Monday called for the immediate suspension of fuel excise tax and value-added tax (VAT) on diesel and gasoline, warning that government response has been too slow and risks arriving too late for millions of Filipinos already struggling to cope with rising prices.

This follows the April 13, 2026 press conference of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., where he announced the suspension of excise taxes on LPG and kerosene. He also noted that the possible suspension of excise […]

Bayanihan 3: Legarda calls for nationwide response, proposes time-bound crisis tax package

As the 2026 global oil crisis pushes up the cost of fuel, electricity, food, and other essentials, Senator Loren Legarda has filed Senate Bill No. 2020, or the Bayanihan 3: Power to the People Act, a comprehensive emergency bill that pairs immediate relief for ordinary Filipinos with a temporary, crisis-specific revenue package. Among its key features is a one-time wealth levy on ultra-high-net-worth individuals, designed to ensure that those most capable of absorbing the shock contribute more, but only for […]

From Cagayan farms to Filipino tables: Legarda leads ‘rescue buy’ amid price crisis

As families continue to grapple with soaring prices of food and fuel, Senator Loren Legarda led a “rescue buy” initiative, turning surplus harvest into immediate relief for vulnerable households.

Through her Lingkod Loren program, Legarda again partnered with Rural Rising Philippines (RuRi PH) on April 9 to purchase one ton of cabbages from farmers in Sto. Niño, Cagayan. The vegetables, which were at risk of spoilage because high fuel costs made transport unprofitable, were distributed to families in Barangay Payatas, Quezon […]