“The two proposals are double punches against the poor whose staple foods now comprise of instant noodles, canned goods and even ‘chichiria’,” said Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Ariel Casilao, noting that these affordable items have become the daily “ulam” for many Filipino families.
“Train will add more taxes on petroleum products, aside from its other features, on top of the trans-fat bill. These two would conjure up hunger for the poorest whose cost of daily food fare would be jacked up by the taxes,” Casilao said.
He warned that “these two tax measures will only isolate Pres. Duterte from the poor. These moves would effect the total opposite of what the President had promised the Filipino people.”
Casilao said that the trans-fat tax proposal ignores the fact that noodles, some canned goods and chichiria are consumed by the poor because those are all they could afford. “Make these more expensive because of taxes and you push the poorest to starvation,” he said.
“While such foods may not be healthy for any one, death by starvation would be the only other option for the poorest,” he noted.
This, even as Casilao urged the government to totally ban genetically modified food products, and promote “more organic and cottage products.”
He said his pending bills, House Bill No. 2719 banning GMO products in agriculture, and HB 1043 or amendments to the Republic Act No. 10068 Organic Agriculture Act, would “give rise to cultivation of mass-oriented organic products and promote its supply in the local market.”
