Malacañang is supporting the decision of government economic managers to push through with the second round of fuel tax increases next month. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the economic managers had their reasons for withdrawing their initial recommendation to suspend the fuel tax increase amid rising inflation. Labor groups assailed Malacañang’s backing of the economic managers’ proposal to reimpose the second round of the tax on fuel, saying it was proof of its “low regard” for the poor who are most affected by the administration’s tax policies. They cited the recent decrease in crude prices as the reason for withdrawing their previous recommendation to suspend the next round of fuel tax increase. The group earlier blamed the high inflation rate, which reached a nine-year-high of 6.7 percent in September and October, to the fuel tax.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 03, 2018 23:26 UTC