Abalos: Remove fuel tax for power generation to cut electricity costs
Senatorial aspirant Abalos warmly greeted in Alyansa rally in Trece Martires Cavite.
MANILA, Philippines – Former DILG Secretary and senatorial aspirant Atty. Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. rallied support from thousands of Caviteños on Friday as he laid down concrete economic reforms aimed at creating more jobs via lower power costs and streamlined business processes.
One is the removal of taxes on fuel used exclusively for power generation which will lower electricity costs, attract more manufacturing firms, and create jobs for Filipinos, according to Abalos.
Abalos emphasized that cheap electricity and a business-friendly environment are key to strengthening the country’s manufacturing sector and solving unemployment.
“Kung aalisin mo ang buwis sa fuel na ginagamit exclusively for power generation, bababa ang presyo ng kuryente. At kapag bumaba ang presyo ng kuryente, papasok ang manufacturing firms — ibig sabihin, trabaho para sa mga Pilipino,” he stressed.
Abalos pointed out that electricity rates in the Philippines are among the most expensive in Asia, making the country less attractive to potential investors.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr . in a huddle with senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos at the Alyansa rally in Cavite.
“Kung makakalikot natin ito, kung matatanggal natin ang ibang buwis sa kuryente, malaking bagay ito para sa mga manufacturing firms na pumasok sa Pilipinas. Ito ang sinasabi ko pa noong 2005 — tutol ako sa VAT sa kuryente,” said Abalos.
(I have been against VAT on electricity since 2005, with lesser electricity costs, more manufacturers will come in and more jobs will be created)
“This was what I stood for when I was a congressman in 2005, and I still stand by it today. We need comprehensive solutions to create jobs and lift more Filipinos out of poverty,” Abalos said.
Abalos cited data from his own computation, showing that island provinces reliant on diesel-powered generators pay as much as P17 to P19 per kilowatt hour, compared to around P11 in Metro Manila.
Abalos said that if elected to the Senate, he will push for legislation that will remove VAT on electricity and taxes on fuel exclusively used for power generation.
Ease of doing business
Abalos also emphasized that addressing high electricity costs must be done alongside reforms in the business climate, such as improving the ease of doing business through digitalization.
More supporters applaud Benhur Abalos after he spoke in the Alyansa rally in Cavite.
“Let’s create an environment that’s business-friendly. Digital portals, online applications, mabilis ang processing time. Huliin ang mga nanghihingi ng pera. These things go together,” he stressed.
“All of these things go together,” he said.
“Sa Senado, may magagawa tayo — we can craft laws and use our oversight function to make this happen.”
