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[av_heading heading=’‘TRAIN burden to poor Pinoys’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
By Abeguen B. Gelito, Intern
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January 20, 2018
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Families seen to shell out P2,500 in add’l monthly expenses under TRAIN
ILOILO City – Several civic organizations from around city gathered to launch the “Scrap Train Network” during a forum on Wednesday at Social Hall in Iloilo National High School – expressing dissent against Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
“[We seek to bring] awareness to the people that such a law exists. Giving them information on how this law works and what its negative [impacts] are on the people”, said Panay Alliance – Karapatan secretary general Reylan Vergara.
Named the “Scrap Train Network”, the newly formed alliance claims that the Rodrigo Duterte administration’s new tax law is geared to benefit large businessmen while burdening the poor with higher prices of basic and prime commodities.
The government aims to collect P1.3 trillion from TRAIN and will be used to finance Duterte’s infrastructure projects.
“These business oligarchs like Henry Sy, Manny Pangilinan, Ramon Ang, among other billionaires will be benefitting largely from managing and profiting infrastructure projects under ‘Build, Build, Build’ such as superhighways, subways, mega dams and airports,” said Bayan Panay secretary general Elmer Forro.
“But these projects, as what we have experienced, shall be taken over by private companies that will turn them into businesses that will deny the poor affordable access to these projects,” Forro added.
The TRAIN however will lower personal income taxes of professionals and uniformed officers in the government. But this does not translate to savings, Bayan Muna claimed.
According to Bayan Muna, a family of five will have an additional P2,442.75 expenses monthly due to direct and indirect impact of TRAIN.
Previously, items without excise tax are now taxed under TRAIN. Diesel will have an additional P2.50/liter, sugar-sweetened beverages such soft drinks P6.00/liter and concentrated juices at PHP10.00/liter.
Meanwhile, local shipping, housing, electric transmissions and cooperative are now added with 12 percent VAT which are previously not taxed. Gasoline on the other hand will have an increase from P4.00 to P7.00 for excise tax.
“Basic logic would tell us that price increases in oil petroleum products will have a domino effect to basic commodities’ prices. It is being felt right now by ordinary Filipinos especially the poor whose wages remain low and meager. That makes Duterte’s TRAIN anti-poor,” said Forro.
The network is expected to conduct series of information campaign drives, lobbying efforts and mobilizations to push for the scrapping of TRAIN./PN
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