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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Several senators are expecting a long deliberation over the proposed tax reform law of the Duterte administration, with one saying its passage without scrutiny at the Upper Chamber is “not realistic.”
But the Senate leader Aquilino Pimentel III, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, believes there should be a “compromise.”
In his second State of the Nation Address on Monday, the tough-talking chief executive called on the Senate to support his tax reform “in full” and for the senators to pass the measure “[with] haste.”
“All should be open to compromise. Senators should also be sensitive to the sentiments of the people,” Senate President Pimentel said on Tuesday.
“But not all groups represent the people. Some represent their own selfish interests. This is what we should be conscious of,” he added.
Imposing higher taxes on diesel and gasoline, sugary beverage, and socialized housing is part of the proposal.
While Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara expressed reservations on these, he supports reducing personal income and estate taxes.
“The President admitted to wanting this tax package. I think that makes it more urgent for Congress to tackle this bill,” the ways and means committee chairman said in Filipino.
“We at the committee level are expediting the deliberation. We did not even go on vacation just to discuss this,” Angara added.
But Duterte’s request for the senators to pass the proposed tax reforms “in toto is totally not realistic,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.
“We will have to look at every single thing the proposal contains,” she said. “We may support some provisions but rejecting others might be inevitable.”
For his part, Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV foresees a “long debate” once the bill is presented on the Senate floor.
“I believe we owe it to the Filipino people to scrutinize the proposed tax reform package as it may raise the prices of commodities,” said Aquino.
Meanwhile, Sen. Loren Legarda believes the proposed tax reforms will help achieve equity.
“Those who have more should pay more,” said the finance committee chairwoman. “[But] in pursuing these reforms, we also need to demand efficiency and integrity from our tax collectors.”
According to Duterte, the Tax Reform Law is needed to fund the P3.767-trillion proposed 2018 national budget.
“The poor and vulnerable are at the heart of my tax reform,” he said. “Your full support will ensure that the benefits of the tax reform can be felt immediately by them.”/PN
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