By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Wednesday (March 23) said the additional funds needed for the fuel subsidy will be taken from excess VAT collections and government corporation dividends.
“Ang excess revenues ay manggagaling either sa dividends ng mga government corporations or doon sa excess VAT collections as a result noong pagtaas natin ng value ng petroleum. So, sa halip na pakinabangan iyan ng gobyerno kung baga, ibabalik sa taong bayan iyong ayuda na ito,” DBM Acting Sec. Tina Rose Canda said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
Canda stressed that the additional funds can only be taken from excess revenues and nothing else as the regular collection of funds is for ongoing projects of the government.
“So, talagang excess revenues lang ang puwedeng pagkuhanan at ang excess revenues ay makukuha lang either sa excess VAT collections at saka dividends ng government,” she said.
Meanwhile, the P2.5 billion fuel subsidy will be released in April.
“Iyong P2.5 billion [na fuel subsidy] itong Abril ay iri-release iyan kasama noong additional P600 million para sa agricultural sector naman na fuel discount naman para hindi masyadong mataas ang bilihin natin sa pagkain,” Canda said. – bny
