MANILA – Senators will discuss in a third public hearing the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law on public services and utilities on Wednesday.
Specifically the committee on public services wants to know how fuel subsidy vouchers will be given out to public utility jeep operators, according to Sen. Grace Poe, committee chairwoman.
The Senate hearing will be held at the University of Science and Technology Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro City.
The hearing also aims to identify the forms of aid available to cushion the impact of the rising fuel prices and the additional 4 million family-beneficiaries of the government’s unconditional cash transfer program, said Poe.
Cabinet officials have been asked to immediately release the subsidies to mitigate the effects of the TRAIN law on the poor.
Such subsidies include fuel vouchers for jeepney drivers, fare discounts and rice subsidies for low-income earners, and financial aid for poor families and senior citizens.
Expected to show up at the Cagayan de Oro City hearing are Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade, Socioeconomic Planning secretary Ernesto Pernia, Finance secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi, Cagayan de Oro City’s mayor Oscar Moreno and vice mayor Raineir Uy, and transport leaders in Mindanao.
Two public hearings on the TRAIN law have been held outside of Manila – in Iloilo City in May and in Legazpi City in June.
“Kailangang marinig naman natin ang daing nila at kung totoo ba ang pangako ng DOTr (Department of Transportation) na magbibigay na sila ng subsidiya o kung ’di pa nila natatanggap, lalung-lalo na sa mga drivers natin sa Mindanao,” said Poe.
The Senate panel will also tackle measures on the proposed creation of Land Transportation Office district offices in Mindanao and the franchise applications of local broadcast stations./PN
