Casiño: Gov’t plans to raise service fees alarming

BAYAN Muna Party list Representative Teddy Casino expressed alarm on the plans of the Aquino Administration to raise fees for government services starting January 2013.

Casiño said instead of increasing the fees the agencies should improve their efficiency.

Government service fees that are expected to be raised next year are: birth certificates, permits, clearances, and similar documents.

Casiño, who was present at the distribution of projects by Gabriela- Negros at the Capitol, said the additional collections from the increase are already included in the House-approved P2-trillion 2013 national budget.

“The government is expecting an additional P1.6 billion, from P67.9 billion to P69.5 billion, from the collection of service fees and other charges,” Casino said.

The increase is expected after President Benigno Aquino III earlier this month signed the Administrative Order 31, which allows state agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, to increase existing fees and impose new charges if needed.

Casino said among the state agencies that would raise their fees are the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Statistics Office (NSO), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Land Registration Authority, Professional Regulation Commission, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Department of Trade and Industry, and National Telecommunications Commission.

The DFA will be mandated to increase 10 percent of its income from visa services (from the current P420 million to P462 million in 2013) and authentication services (from P430 million to P473 million).

Income from clearances from the NBI would go up by 4.2 percent, from P545 million this year to P568 million next year.

The NSO, on the other hand, is expected to earn an additional P90 million (from P543 million to P633 million) from fees for birth certificates, marriage licenses and other documents. (Teresa D. Ellera)