MANILA — Senator Erwin Tulfo urged the government to ensure that proposed tax relief on petroleum products benefits a wider segment of the public, particularly motorcycle riders who rely on gasoline.

The call came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certified as urgent a measure that would authorize the suspension or reduction of excise taxes on fuel.

During a hearing of the Senate Ways and Means Committee on March 11, Tulfo cautioned against limiting the proposed tax suspension to diesel, saying this would exclude millions of Filipinos who depend on gasoline-powered motorcycles.

“Let us not leave the motorcycle-riding public behind. They use gasoline for their motorcycles, so we cannot limit the excise tax suspension on diesel alone,” Tulfo stated.

“There are 8.5 million Filipinos who use motorcycles on a daily basis; many of them use it to go to work and others use it for their livelihood. What will happen to them if we do not include gasoline in the suspension?” he added.

Responding to the concern, Department of Finance Undersecretary Karlo Adriano said the Development Budget Coordination Committee and the Department of Energy are working on a comprehensive recommendation for the President that would address the issue.

Apart from tax relief, Tulfo also warned against the possible politicization of government fuel subsidies currently being provided to public utility vehicle drivers and fisherfolk.

“We have policies in place prohibiting the intervention of politicians. Those who will be caught using this crisis as a tool for political motives must be punished,” Tulfo warned.

“The money being used for these subsidies is from hard-earned taxpayers’ money; there shall be no intervention of any politician in the distribution,” he added.

Tulfo earlier pushed for the inclusion of a provision during the bicameral conference on the 2026 national budget that bars politicians from taking part in the distribution of government assistance.

The initiative was later reinforced through Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2026-006, which also prohibits such involvement.

The senator also revived the proposed Anti-Epal Act, filed in February, which seeks to permanently ban elected officials and political candidates from participating in the actual distribution of government financial aid.