FINANCE Secretary Ralph Recto has said the Department of Finance (DOF) is currently looking at the possibility of implementing a General Tax Amnesty program and imposing additional rules on online gambling.
“While no new tax proposals are on the table, refined measures — such as the Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime — are awaiting enactment. We are also studying the possibility of enacting General Tax Amnesty and Online Gambling Tax laws,” Recto said during the 2025 EJAP Economic Forum in Manila on August 11.
“It’s not going to be the same bill as passed by Congress then that was vetoed. Eto (This is) just General Tax Amnesty,” he added on the sidelines of the forum.
In 2019, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed but partially vetoed the Tax Amnesty Act (RA 11213) because it did not contain a provision that lifted bank secrecy for fraud cases.
Recto said they will push for the passage of the General Tax Amnesty within the year.
“But we’ll have to have it approved yet with the President or in the Cabinet,” he said.
Online gambling
Recto said the government is also looking at imposing stricter measures on online gambling.
“We will still be meeting. This is a whole-of-government approach. Even the President already has mentioned he will call for a semi-summit to discuss the issue,” he said.
Recto earlier said one of the options they are looking at is the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation increasing the fees and charges it collects from online gaming.
“I’d say today if the rate is 30%, is it possible to bring that up to 35, 40, so on and so forth. But we’ll consult with PAGCOR on that as well because they will have to implement it. This will not require any legislation anyway,” Recto said.
The Finance chief said one of the proposals also includes banning government officials from participating in online gambling.
He added that proposals banning government-owned and controlled corporations from investing in online gambling are also a “good suggestion.”
“That’s a good suggestion. We’ll look into it. I agree. Ang Maharlika hindi mag-iinvest doon (Maharlika will not invest there),” he said.
Maharlika is the Philippines’ first sovereign wealth fund.
Recto, meanwhile, said the DOF is currently investigating the Government Service Insurance System’s P1-billion investment in DigiPlus Interactive Corp. (PNA)
