The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the excise tax on gasoline and diesel will not be suspended for now, unlike liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene, its secretary said in an interview on Tuesday.
Speaking to DZRH’s morning program Dos Por Dos, Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo said gasoline and diesel were not included in the economic managers’ recommendation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the suspension of excise taxes.
“Sa ngayon wala pong bawas, but of course that will be subject to review. We will review that every month, kung anong puwede pang gawin natin, given the development. We will review that policy that the President has decided together with the DBCC (Development Budget Coordination Committee)... Titingnan ko talaga bang kailangan pa ba (nating) i-suspend ng totally at magbigay lang ng ₱10 (kada litro). Or rather, really suspend the excise tax,,” Toledo said.
Instead, the agency will focus on providing targeted subsidies, including the ₱10-per-liter fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers at participating gasoline stations within Metro Manila.
The possible suspension of the excise tax on gasoline and diesel will be further studied during a meeting with the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport, or the UPLIFT committee, Toledo added.
While the government has spent over ₱100 billion in financial aid in just six weeks, Toledo assured the public that sufficient funds remain available.
He explained that these were sourced from the 2025 General Appropriations Act under continuing appropriations, as well as from this year’s budget. Toledo also said the government is exploring additional funding sources should the conflict persist.
“Mayroon pa tayong tinitingnan other than this na available funding… May tinitingnan tayo kung paano makakalikom pa wherein mag-iisip kami ng circular, kumbaga ito ‘yung economy measures that we’re looking at para puwede tayong makalikom pa para maging savings po natin para magamit po natin sa ating pandagdag dito sa binibigay na suporta sa ahensya, para sa kanilang mga programa,” he said.
