TRAIN
Oil shocks risk further erosion of Filipinos’ purchasing power
March 10, 2026
Many Filipinos’ meager incomes will not keep pace with the rising cost of living driven by higher fuel prices.
The poor’s calvary
April 16, 2025
World Bank wants to tax Filipinos, but not the rich
April 8, 2025
Tax reforms should align with broader developmental goals like reducing inequality, strengthening public services, and promoting inclusive growth rather than narrowly focusing on revenue maximization. The government should object to World Bank conditionalities as a matter of principle.
Gov’t can mitigate oil price hikes by scrapping fuel taxes
August 8, 2023
The Marcos Jr administration can moderate the impact of oil price hikes on millions of Filipinos by scrapping excise and value-added taxes for petroleum products.
Tax billionaire wealth to raise revenues
October 11, 2022
Government refuses to cut oil taxes because of revenue losses. Taxing the super-rich however will help raise revenues—a wealth tax on 2,945 billionaires can contribute Php469 billion to government coffers. This is even bigger than the Php197.3-billion revenue collected from TRAIN’s oil excise tax in 2019-2020 which disproportionately burdened the poor.
Suspending TRAIN oil taxes will lower oil prices and ease inflation—IBON
October 23, 2021
Suspending oil excise taxes, can ease the burden of rising prices on ordinary Filipinos, and revenue losses can be compensated by suspending corporate tax cuts. These can be the start of a more progressive tax system and a prelude to better regulation and control over the country’s oil industry.
Use ₱133.9-billion TRAIN revenues for ayuda – IBON
August 14, 2021
The Duterte administration can use revenue generated by its regressive TRAIN law to fund emergency cash assistance. TRAIN’s new taxes increased the prices for goods and services consumed by the majority poor Filipinos even amid the pandemic and the revenues can be used productively while the law remains.
IBON Executive Director on TRAIN and ayuda funds
July 31, 2021
IBON Executive Director on TRAIN and ayuda funds
