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Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Razon: VAT, an expanded trouble
By Rollie R. Razon
THE public's adverse reaction against the expanded Value Added Tax (VAT) is expected to last even after the VAT bill has passed both Houses of Congress. And because of its effect on the majority of our people, the expanded VAT will go down in our history as a law that has elicited the most vigorous objections.
Whatever. Malacañang and those who favor its implementation will have a lot of explaining to do before they could convince everyone that it will not really affect even the poorest of the poor everywhere in the country.
Actually, some minutes after the filing of this column, we learned that associations of tricycle drivers in Central Luzon would request shortly their town mayors to allow them to hike their already-increased-fare and call this fare increase "night differential fare." If tricycle drivers have thought of hiking fare on account of the proposed expanded VAT, what is to prevent other transport organizations to follow suit?
Right now, the appeal of some sectors to defer the implementation of the expanded VAT will be made in Central Luzon by groups like Bayan, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kilosang Mayo Uno, Kapisanan ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon, etc. They will be joined by teachers, government workers and transport organizations, plain housewives in mass actions planned to be launched starting February 7. The groups announced that they will march to Malacañang, the Batasang Pambansa, Senate and the Department of Finance.
Most concerned people argue that we really don't need an expanded VAT in order to shore up our sagging economy. All we need, most people argue, is to improve tax collection and reduce corruption most especially in the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs and in the local government treasury departments. An improved tax mapping system followed by an improved collection drive among local government units (LGUs) will, most people feel, improve our government's finances,
We personally feel that real estate property taxes (RPTs) could be upped significantly if our collectors would cease making deals with real estate owners. Business and income taxes, on the other hand, should be properly assessed and correct taxes levied. Our collection of taxes from mineral resources is being ignored when all these can very well improve the financial positions of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays.
According to some sources, the municipality of Mabalacat refuses to remit to the province of Pampanga the latter's share in mineral resources collection because the province has also not given the municipality's (Mabalacat)'s share from mineral resources' collections.
That such failure in the remittances of shares by provinces to the National Government is also happening now is not remote.
At this point in our time, everyone should be vigilant of what goes on in our public offices so that all of us would be able to give a critical assessment on all issues. And, certainly, expanded VAT is one issue we all must view with a clearer perspective.
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Overheard: "Nanakawin din lang ang ano mang makukulekta mula sa expanded VAT ng mga tulisan na nasa sa ilang sangay ng pamahalaan katulad ng ginagawa nila sa iba pang nakukulekta nilang mga bayarin, bakit pa tayo magbabayad ng expanded VAT?
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Since it has been proven that marijuana-planting is very difficult to combat, our lawmakers should consider the plant only as regulated drug. No matter how vigilant our law-enforcers have been recently, it seems that the government drive against marijuana is really not that successful.
Marijuana, when planted between rows of other plants like cassava or kamoteng kahoy, is very hard to detect. This was proven by the fact that while the Dangerous Drugs Board, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the national police have launched concerted drives against marijuana-growing, there are still some individuals believed transporting dried marijuana leaves from Benguet, Central and Northern Luzon to Metro Manila.
The recent drive versus marijuana-growing in Benguet was, of course, laudable. But it did not prove that there is no more planting of the plant in previous - and coming -- years. Our authorities may have been successful in one Benguet marijuana farm, but can we say the same thing in other areas in Northern and Southern Philippines?
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The comment of TV audience regarding the feud between Sen. Jamby Madrigal and Environment Secretary Mike Defensor for the two to stop their word war is worth pondering.
A lady television listener appealed recently to Madrigal and Defensor to stop their word war and attend more to the problem of illegal logging and thus, even if only in a small way, floods and other calamities associated with the denuding of our forests would be fully attended to.
A lot of people have made the same appeal to Madrigal and Defensor but the two seem to be more concerned by the media mileage they get from their tirades against each other.
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Even now that discussions on illegal logging are ongoing, the Department of Agriculture (DA) should seriously address the problem of food production. Central Luzon and vast areas in Central Mindanao used to produce enough cereals and fruits to supply the country's needs. Because of fruits and vegetable shortages, housewives in our country are now using imported onions, garlic and pepper. There is also a possibility now that we'd be importing cereals and fruits from China, Thailand and Malaysia.
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We bid Governor Mark T. Lapid "Welcome home and Mabuhay" on his return to Pampanga. In his absence, Vice Governor Yeng Guiao had a talk about the transfer of operation of quarry activities from the Province to the NRDC. While Guiao's move was unsuccessful, Lapid should henceforth refrain from making prolonged travels abroad because some people are bound to grab the opportunity to stir up trouble at the Capitol.
"Dapat kay Governor Mark, huwag siyang aalis o kaya ay tatayo man lamang sa kanyang upuan sa Kapitoyo dahil maaaring may makaagaw ng kanyang silya (Governor Mark should not leave, not even stand up from his seat in the Capitol because someone might just take it away from him)," a Pampanga Capitol habitue said.
(February 2, 2005 issue)
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