Legarda pushes bill to cut excise and VAT on petrol products amid oil price crisis

Filipinos are being hit by relentless increases in petroleum prices that are driving up daily fares and household costs nationwide, with diesel prices increasing by as much as 24 pesos per liter , kerosene by 32 to 38.50 pesos per liter, and gasoline by 7 to 13 pesos per liter in a single week, as oil firms implement staggered “big-time” hikes. At current pump prices of around 70 pesos per liter for diesel, an increase of about 24 pesos represents […]

Legarda pushes to exempt basic goods, services, and medicines from VAT and reduce the overall rate

Senator Loren Legarda filed two bills to lower prices on basic goods and services while expanding value-added tax (VAT) exemptions for essential necessities and medical services.

These measures represent concrete steps toward a more progressive national VAT system, easing the burden on low-income households.

“The measures will immediately provide relief to those with lower incomes, helping them survive day-to-day and build a better future for their families,” said Legarda.

“By treating healthcare and daily subsistence as fundamental rights rather than taxable transactions, the […]

Legarda demands accountability for onion price crash, import overlap, and cold storage monopoly

Senator Loren Legarda has called urgent attention to the collapse of onion farm gate prices in Nueva Ecija and Occidental Mindoro, which plunged from ₱120–₱150 per kilogram in January 2026 to just ₱30–40 in February 2026, leaving farmers on the brink of economic loss while retail prices in Metro Manila remained disproportionately high.

Legarda emphasized that mistimed import arrivals, cold storage saturation, and anomalous shipments in Bulacan have compounded the crisis, exposing systemic failures in the supply chain.

On March 11, 2026, […]

Legarda advances GIDA Schools Act to guarantee education access in remote areas

Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, has introduced Senate Bill No. 1937, the GIDA Schools Act, a measure that institutionalizes support for public basic education schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

The bill, principally authored by Legarda, ensures that children in remote communities will have schools within reach, guided by national accessibility standards, a mapping system, and annual reporting to Congress.

The proposed law directs the Department of Education (DepEd) to adopt […]

Legarda moves to ease household burden with comprehensive VAT reform package

Senator Loren Legarda has filed three complementary measures aimed at easing the burden on Filipino households by reforming the country’s value-added tax (VAT) system. The proposals lower the general VAT rate, exempt basic goods and services, and correct distortions in electricity billing to ensure fairness and fiscal responsibility.

“Relief must be responsible,” Legarda said. “We can ease the burden on ordinary families without draining government funds. This reform lowers VAT where it matters most, on everyday consumption, while ensuring that those […]