Senator Mar Roxas last week called on the government to act now to prevent foreseen mass layoffs of Filipinos both here and abroad as a result of the global financial crisis.
"Sa grabe ng krisis sa Estados Unidos, ay siguradong maaa-pektuhan ang trabaho ng ating mga OFW, ang exporting industries, at pati na rin ang mga nasa call center dito. Ang tanong lang ay – paano natin maiiwasan ang pinakamasamang epekto nito? (With the extent of the crisis in the United States, it is sure that our OFWs, exporting industries and even our call centers will be affected. The only question is – how do we avoid the worst effects of this?)" Roxas asked.
"Ngayon pa lang, dapat dagdagan ang tulong sa ating domestic industry, para hindi sila magsara sa kabila nitong napipintong financial tsunami. Huwag na nating hintayin na mangyari ito. Magsiguro na tayo na hindi ito mangyari (As early as now, there should be an increase in assistance to our domestic industry, so that businesses don’t close as a result of this impending financial tsunami. Let’s not wait for this to happen. Let’s be sure it doesn’t happen)," he said.
He noted that when the 2009 budget was first proposed by Malacañang in August, the crisis was not fully considered. "Nananawagan ako sa Pangulo na magpatawag ng multi-party budget summit kung saan, amyendahan natin, papalitan natin, i-realign natin ang bugdet sa ganoon malagay natin ang pera natin doon sa higit kailangan (I call on the President to convene a multi-party budget summit where we can revise and realign next year’s budget, so that we can place our money where it is most needed)," he suggested.
"Hindi maari ang pang karaniwang kalakaran na kaunti rito, kaunti doon, tapos wala naman tayong napapala. Mahalaga na may direksyon ang ating pondo. Dagdagan natin ang pondo ng agrikultura at ang ating mga magsasaka ang makasisiguro na may supply tayo para sa lahat, at hindi na tayo bibili ng bigas sa iba (We can’t go on putting a little money here and there, with nothing gained. It’s important to have direction in funding. Let’s increase funds for agriculture, and our farmers will ensure that there is enough supply for all, and we will no longer buy rice from abroad)," he said.
The Ilonggo senator also stressed the need to boost education spending, so as to provide students with the tools needed to get good jobs.
BIR Must Pursue Tax System Reforms
Senator Mar Roxas also challenged the commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to pursue tax reforms and allow for maximum collection of revenues for programs that truly benefit the people.
The new leadership should have an "iron fist and political will" that would improve on the administration of BIR Commissioner Lilian Hefti, whose resignation Malacañang confirmed.
Roxas urged the BIR to look at improving collections from present non-taxpayers, like many professionals and self-employed individuals, rather than continuing to "bleed our workers dry."
"We need someone at the helm who could maximize government’s tax collection efforts. Ngayong mayroon tayong hinaharap na financial tsunami dahil sa financial crisis sa Amerika, kailangang maging maayos ang pangongolekta natin ng mga taxes para hindi lumobo ang ating budget deficit," said Roxas.
The BIR had earlier conceded that it might fall short of its 2008 collection target of P854 billion due to the worldwide economic slowdown. But while Roxas pushed for rigid tax collection efforts, he warned the BIR against unfair collections to meet its targets, particularly the bureau’s interpretation of the coverage of Republic Act No. 9504, or the law which exempts minimum wage earners from income taxes and increases the personal exemptions of other workers.
The BIR has insisted on providing the tax exemption for income of minimum wage earners only from July onwards, and to exclude minimum wage earners who get extra allowances from their employers.
"I agree that we should maximize our collection efforts but there is no need to bleed the citizenry dry just to meet targets. Huwag na nating dagdagan pa ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan," he said.
Roxas has been pushing for the full implementation of RA 9504, to cover the months of January to June of 2008. He filed a petition at the Supreme Court for this, together with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. /MP
The new leadership should have an "iron fist and political will" that would improve on the administration of BIR Commissioner Lilian Hefti, whose resignation Malacañang confirmed.
Roxas urged the BIR to look at improving collections from present non-taxpayers, like many professionals and self-employed individuals, rather than continuing to "bleed our workers dry."
"We need someone at the helm who could maximize government’s tax collection efforts. Ngayong mayroon tayong hinaharap na financial tsunami dahil sa financial crisis sa Amerika, kailangang maging maayos ang pangongolekta natin ng mga taxes para hindi lumobo ang ating budget deficit," said Roxas.
The BIR had earlier conceded that it might fall short of its 2008 collection target of P854 billion due to the worldwide economic slowdown. But while Roxas pushed for rigid tax collection efforts, he warned the BIR against unfair collections to meet its targets, particularly the bureau’s interpretation of the coverage of Republic Act No. 9504, or the law which exempts minimum wage earners from income taxes and increases the personal exemptions of other workers.
The BIR has insisted on providing the tax exemption for income of minimum wage earners only from July onwards, and to exclude minimum wage earners who get extra allowances from their employers.
"I agree that we should maximize our collection efforts but there is no need to bleed the citizenry dry just to meet targets. Huwag na nating dagdagan pa ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan," he said.
Roxas has been pushing for the full implementation of RA 9504, to cover the months of January to June of 2008. He filed a petition at the Supreme Court for this, together with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. /MP
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