MANILA, Philippines — Don’t be “so sad about being taxed,” President Rodrigo Duterte told the public on Wednesday, a day after he approved the proposal for the government to proceed with the second round of fuel excise tax hikes in 2019.

“Do not be so sad about being taxed because your money here during my term is safe. I will not allow corruption. I have fired so many Cabinet members for just an infraction,” he said in a speech during the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas in Malacañang.

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On Tuesday, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the President had approved the fuel tax hike starting next month.

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, an additional levy of P2.24 per liter would be imposed for diesel and gasoline starting Jan. 1, 2019.

The additional duty consists of P2 excise tax and 24 centavos value-added tax (VAT).

TRAIN has been blamed for the inflation in the country, which hit a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September and October this year.

Inflation eased to a to a four-month low of 6 percent in November, making it the the lowest since the 5.7-percent recorded in July. /atm

Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 2018 Model OFW Family of the Year Awards In recognition of their outstanding contributions to national development efforts and achievements in their field of profession, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte awards 25 distinguished individuals and foreign-based organizations with the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace on December 5, 2018.The PAFIOO is a biennial award implemented and managed by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). It is the highest honor given by the Government of the Philippines to Filipinos and organizations based abroad. Foreign individuals and organizations that provided national assistance and helped in advancing the cause of Filipino overseas may also be conferred with the award.Likewise, the Chief Executive acknowledges the contributions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as he awards them with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 2018 Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).The MOFYA aims to promote success stories of OFWs amidst the challenges of overseas employment and also seeks to highlight the role of OFW families as units in achieving socio-civic, educational, and professional success.#PartnerForChange#ComfortableLifeForAll Posted by Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines) on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 ADVERTISEMENT

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