Author of TRAIN Law wants to find out why social protection to poor is delayed

June 5, 2018

The House committee on ways and means will grill key government officials to find out the reasons behind delayed implementation of the social protection program of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act after the inflation rate breached the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the third straight month.

Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, the panel chairman, renewed his appeal to make the social benefits card, unconditional cash transfers, and fuel vouchers of the Republic Act (RA) No. 10963 or the TRAIN Law available to poor beneficiaries as soon as possible.

Cua, principal author of TRAIN Law, said Congress also ensured these social protection measures are funded in the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) such as the P25 billion for the unconditional cash transfer and close to P900 million for fuel vouchers.

“The committee is arranging a roundtable discussion with the implementing agencies to discuss the delays and come up with a way forward,” said Cua following the continued non-implementation of the needed aid program, apparently due to the lack of beneficiaries’ database.

“Regardless of the causes, the effects of price increases are more pronounced on those who have less income. They are the families who can barely get by and urgently need help from government. During the deliberations for TRAIN, the economic managers gave Congress their assurance that programs will be in place to help Filipinos cope with rising commodity prices,” Cua recalled.

But Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said the proposed subsidies under the TRAIN Law are not enough to meet the average daily needs of poor families.

Baguilat said  Congress should review the law and repeal the provisions on excise tax on fuel.

“I would rather that we review the law and repeal the provisions on excise taxes on fuel,” said Baguilat.

Baguilat said the better alternative is to improve tax collection on luxury items. DMS