Sugar inquiry held in abeyance: Albee
Thursday, December 21, 2017
BY CARLA GOMEZ
Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) yesterday said he is holding in abeyance his call for a congressional inquiry into complaints of sugar price manipulation with the recent increase in prices.
He said some industry stakeholders had asked him to call for a House investigation but shortly after he announced it, the prices of sugar started to go up.
So, for now, he is holding the inquiry in abeyance until the situation warrants it, he said.
“If the prices of sugar go down again, I will really push for an investigation,” Benitez said.
On the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) that President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law, Benitez said it will spare 99 percent of Filipinos from paying income taxes.
This is because under TRAIN, those who have an annual income of not more than PHP250,000 will be tax-exempt, he said.
Benitez also said he does not believe the increase in fuel prices under TRAIN will have an inflationary effect and drive up prices of goods.*CPG