Thursday, August 12, 2004 Mongaya: Text revolt By Anol Mongaya
With her plan to tax text messages, President Arroyo is inviting a storm worse than what could have happened had she refused to withdraw the small Philippine peace-keeping force in Iraq.
She should know better. Edsa 2 that swept her to power erupted minutes after that dramatic vote in the Senate impeachment trial because of the texting phenomenon. Text-crazy Filipinos won’t allow text tax without a bruising fight.
President Arroyo should be wary of Cebuanos, who overwhelmingly voted for her, because they would certainly dump her if she makes texting more expensive even by a few centavos. Increase the taxes of something else, like Lucio Tan’s cigarettes or Danding’s beer. But don’t tinker with text messaging or you’ll be flooded with tens of millions of protest text messages.
Ironically, the text protests will give additional windfall to delighted telecom firms. Government can only salivate at the loss of potential revenues.
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Talking about loss in revenues, I don’t think missing Cebu City Hall tax collector Vicky Masuhay could have fled with nearly P200,000 without the help of some colleagues.
City officials said they intend to efficiently collect taxes this year instead of imposing additional taxes and increasing real property taxes. They should clean City Hall ranks first.
It is unfortunate that the present City Council does not have an opposition member anymore. With yes men at the helm, we will just be jolted from time to time by news of employees absconding with taxpayers’ money. Oh well, we deserve the kind of government led by officials we elected into office.
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How true are talks that the strained RP-US relations as a result of the Angelo de la Cruz hostage drama have affected Filipinos wanting to travel to the US? More Filipinos are reportedly being denied visas. Top Philippine officials might delude themselves by listening more to the bright side of American diplomatic double talk. But some of those who were denied visas said they know better.
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A billboard in front of the erstwhile customs house boasts of the existence of the “Malacañang in the South.” This is supposedly part of Ate Glo’s program to bring government closer to the people. But I haven’t seen ordinary folk visiting the office to present their concerns. I think the expensive undertaking is just a public relations move.
Meanwhile, I believe the Customs offices could not be immediately relocated to the Cebu International Port unless the National Government pours in funds to renovate the dilapidated passenger terminal. Customs is a vital cog in government’s drive to collect revenues. The Cebu bureau contributes hundreds of millions of pesos. Disruption in its operations should be minimized.
As of the moment, however, the President’s men have driven away from the second floor all customs-related offices. The last holdout is the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, which now occupies a corridor in the ground floor and a van outside the building.
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Some government agencies are reportedly moving against ukay-ukay because these rags from abroad are competing with products of local manufacturers. But the textile industry is reeling not because of ukay-ukay at the Carbon market but because of the flood of cheap RTWs from China.
Nobody is asking manufacturers that are importing these cheap clothing from China why they are killing the local textile industry. Nevertheless, I think the priority should be providing our people with affordable clothes.
Are ukay-ukay really rags that the 1965 anti-used clothing law banned? A television ad of a popular washing detergent features a teenager wearing a dress from “UK” to a formal school affair. The ad speaks much about the quality of clothes one could buy from ukay-ukay stalls.
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The operation of video carrera continues to flourish in Cebu City because the local police are tolerating it reportedly because of their lucrative weekly take.
(e-mail: superbalita@sunstar.com.ph or anol_cebu@hotmail.com; text: 0917-9761193)
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