The Economy and Finance Commission of the National Assembly approved in the first debate the project of Law 808 that establishes a transitory suspension to the collection of the fuel consumption tax, due to the constant increase of these petroleum derivatives.
The proposal establishes the temporary suspension of the collection of the tax, which is 60 cents for a gallon of gasoline and 25 cents for diesel. The proponent of the initiative, the deputy of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, Zulay Rodríguez, said that it seeks to reduce the impact of the increase in fuel prices.
In the Assembly there are two other legislative initiatives that propose a partial reduction of this tax. Bill 264, promoted by Panamanian deputy Luis Ernesto Carles, aims to reduce 25 hundredths of the tax per gallon of gasoline and 10 hundredths per gallon of low-sulfur diesel for 180 days.
The third legislative initiative is draft 258, proposed by the Democratic Change deputy, Rony Araúz, who also proposes that 25 hundredths per gallon of gasoline and 10 hundredths per gallon of diesel be deducted, also for 180 days.
With the new price change, starting this Friday, April 22, and ending on May 6, a gallon of 95-octane gasoline will rise 4 hundredths to be sold at a ceiling of $4.61, while diesel will increase 9 hundredths to a ceiling of $4.72 per gallon.
