Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Laviña warns against gov't fee increases By Grace L. Plata
INCREASING fees and charges to increase revenues should be the last recourse of the National Government, City Councilor Peter T. Laviña said, as he opposed the National Government's move to pass on to the ordinary citizens the burden of revenue generation.
Laviña, chairman of the committee on commerce, trade and industry, said public service must be accessible to the citizens and that exorbitant fees and charges are anti-democratic.
The National Government plans to increase fees and charges to raise more revenues to meet its target in narrowing the budget deficit this year to P63 billion.
"Fiscal managers of the country fear the deficit to balloon this year due to shortfalls in revenue collection. During the first half of this year, the deficit target missed by P6.4 billion," Laviña said.
Laviña said the people should not be burdened by the failure of government agencies to meet their goal adding that regulators should instead run after big time tax evaders and smugglers rather than punish small citizens needing government documents such as licenses and clearances.
Among the top agencies in collecting fees are the Land Transportation Office for driver licenses, Department of Foreign Affairs for passports and National Bureau of Investigation for clearances.
Laviña said he would ask his colleagues in the City Council to pass a resolution to oppose the planned fee increases.
