As the price of oil products continues to escalate, the proposal of Senator Mar Roxas not only makes sense; it’s imperative.
Gloria Arroyo wallowing in billions of pesos in “Katas ng Vat” while the rest of the Filipinos reel from spiraling prices is criminal. Balancing the budget should be done through more efficient revenue collection and not through this unjust value added tax that drives almost everybody into poverty.
Roxas is correct in debunking the argument of the administration that only the higher-middle class income groups and big business are affected by VAT. He said the fisherman buys gasoline for his motorized boat, the tricycle driver buys gasoline for his tricycle, the taxi driver buys gasoline to ply his route. These are poor people.
Besides, the high-income businessmen can easily pass on the higher cost of production by increasing prices for their goods. In the end it’s the consumers, the people, that bear the heavy yoke of the VAT that Arroyo is so happy about.
Following are excerpts from the interview of Roxas by Orly Trinidad and Fernan Gulapa on DZBB which makes the issue of VAT understandable.
Roxas: Yung talagang ayaw magpalit ng isip sa kabila ng malaking pagbabago sa sitwasyon ay tinatawag na ‘foolish.’ Last year, mga Setyembre pa natin ipinapanawagan ito, na i-suspend yung VAT mula sa produktong petrolyo. Agad-agad six pesos ang savings. Sa diesel, from 54 pesos per liter, magiging 48 pesos per liter, sa kasalukuyang presyuhan. Sa LPG, for an 11-kilo tank, yan mga 66 pesos ang savings nyan. So malaki talaga ang pakinabang nito para sa ating mga kababayan at dapat nga tingnan ito ng gobyerno.
At sasabihin ko na katarantaduhan ito, kung ayaw nilang repasuhin itong nakaraang desisyon, samantalang yung desisyon na yun ay kinuha sa kakaibang panahon.
DZBB: Saang punto pwedeng sabihin na ibalik natin ang buwis sa langis?
Roxas: Noong ipinataw itong VAT na ito, nasa $30 per barrel. Ngayon nasa $140 per barrel. So halos times four ang presyo ng langis ngayon. Eh sabihin natin na ibalik natin pag bumalik na sa $60, sige umpisahan natin mangolekta uli, pero huwag muna sa ngayon. Dahilan sa noong ipinataw itong VAT na ito, ang inasahan lamang ng gobyerno na makolekta dito is 12 percent times $30 per barrel is $3.60 per barrel of oil. Yun muna ang inasahan nila rito. Yun lang ang kanilang protest. Ngayon ang kinokolekta nila is about $15 per barrel. So apaw-apaw na ang nakokolekta ng gobyerno dito.
In fact, yung Bureau of Customs, binigyan nila nag sarili nila ng bonus. Hindi naman ito bunga ng pagtatrabaho nila. Bunga ito ng nagmahal na presyo ng langis. Kaya tumaas din ang koleksyon.
In fact, napagtatakpan nito yung maraming kahinaan doon sa mga collecting agencies sa ngayon because ang gobyerno nakaangkas sa presyo ng langis. Habang tumataas ang presyo ng langis, tumataas din ang koleksyon ng gobyerno. So maaaring sabihin na ang gobyerno ang padagdag sa bigat na pinapasan natin.
DZBB: Sinasabi nila matatamaan rin ang mga mahihirap kasi kinokolekta ang buwis sa mga mayayaman, at ginagamit ito sa mga programa.
Roxas: Kalokohan iyan, dahilan sa mga mangingisda na bumibili ng gasolina para sa kanyang motorized bangka – mayaman ba iyan o mahirap? Yung tricycle driver na bumibili ng gasolina para sa kanyang tricycle na makapasada siya – mayaman ba iyan o mahirap? Yung jeepney driver na bumibili ng kanyang krudo para sa kanyang pasada – mahirap o mayaman? Hindi natin dine-deny na ang mga mayayaman ay makikinabang. Pero mas maraming mahihirap ang makikinabang kaysa sa mayayaman.
Number two, mas kinakailangan ng mga mahihirap ito kaysa sa mayaman at kaysa sa gobyerno. Number three, higit sa lahat, mas malaking bahagi ng gastusin ng mahirap yung binabayad nilang transportasyon o gasolina kaysa sa mayayaman. Ang punto dito ay, ang mahihirap ang makikinabang dito.
Sa latest inflation data, mas mataas ang inflation sa kalayunan, sa countryside, ang rural kaysa sa urban. Kasi naka-factor in doon yung transport cost. Mahal na masyado magpadala ng mga produkto sa kalayunan. Kahit semento, fertilizer, gatas, noodles…. Yung mga pagawaan niyan nandito sa Maynila. So bawat pagdala niyan sa kalayunan, malaking bahagi ang transport cost, at lalo nagmamahal sa countryside.
DZBB: Wala bang magagawa ang legislative department?
Roxas: Ginawa natin ang lahat na magagawa natin sa Senado. Nakaabang na kami. Pero hindi executive action ang hinihingi dito, kundi political action. Political will.
Alam naman natin na sa Kamara, kung ano ang gusto ng Malacañang, iyan ang masusunod. Kung sabihin ng Malacañang ‘sinusuportahan namin ito,’ mabilis pa sa alas kwatro, papasa na iyan sa Kamara. Lahat naman ng mga constituents ng mga congressman, nagrereklamo na. Ayaw lang nilang humakbang kasi pinipigilan sila ng Malacañang. Kung sumenyas lang ang Malacañang na okey sa kanila ito, at aaksyon kaagad ang Kamara, mabilis pa sa alas kwatro, mapapasa ito, maisasabatas ito.
Great suggestion, Sen Roxas ! Now if only the midget will listen to a fellow economist. Unfortunately, arrogant as she is, she probably won’t & do what she damn pleases until her govt will be rocked..
Mar Roxas knows what he’s talking about. But whether or not he could be a good President is another thing. Roxas is among those candidates who have earlier manifested desires to run for President in 2010. Between now and 2010, expect impressive articles about him if only to boost his image. Over at ABS-CBN and DZMM, his reported fiance Korina Sanchez is working hard for his candidacy. Korina is bashing Malacanang in her daily programs.
“So maaaring sabihin na ang gobyerno ang padagdag sa bigat na pinapasan natin.”
Yung pabigat, dapat itapon!
“Ngayon ang kinokolekta nila is about $15 per barrel. So apaw-apaw na ang nakokolekta ng gobyerno dito.”
Nasaan? Hindi namin nararamdaman!
Hindi lang VAT ang naka-tongpats sa langis, may import duties pa na sinisingil ang Customs. Kahit pa 5% lang ang sinisingil na duty, $7 per barrel pa rin iyan. Malaki na ang kinikita ng gobyerno sa langis kahit walang VAT, siyempre pa, may income tax na sinisingil pa mula sa mga oil companies pati pa yung sa gasoline stations.
Kaya naman gustong-gusto ng pekeng ekonomista ang VAT dahil ito ay consumption-based. Dahil walang gaanong income tax sa kawalan ng investors, gumugulong ang ekonomiya sa OFW remittances na personal comsumption lang ang pinupuntahan. At dahil nga pass-on ang VAT, ang kawawang consumer ang sumasalo ng buong-buo nito dahil hindi naman niya maipapasa ang VAT.
Kung ang VAT sana ay naibabawas sa income tax ng bawat manggagawa, gaya ng ginagawa ng mga negosyante, walang duda na mas makakabuti ito sa tao. Kaso, kahit sari-sari store, hindi maka-credit ng input VAT sa kanyang taxable income, kaya maging ang underground economy na siyang bumubuhay sa maraming hindi makakuha ng trabaho sa kakarampot na job openings ay dagdag pa sa pahirap sa masa at dagdag pa sa taas ng presyo.
Inutil ang pekeng ekonomistang si Gloria. Ang Economics, gaya ng itinuturo sa Econ101, ay proper allocation of resources. Ibig sabihin, palabas ang pera. Si Gloria, puro pakabig ang iniintindi – ganyan talaga pag gahaman.
Econ 101 ni Gloria: allocation of resources kay Bitch, Batchoy, Mikey d’Horsie, Datu-datuan, at Lulibye.
chi,
ramdam na ramdam naman…ang pahirap!
Tongue,
Sabi ng ate ko ay tagos sa buto ang ramdam ng hirap dahil sa VAT!
E kundi ba naman gago, bakit sisingilin ang VAT ang majority ng mga pilipino na mahirap. Bakit hindi ipataw iyan doon sa mga mayayaman at malalaking businesses gaya noong nagbenta ng 3000 dollars worth na damit kay Gloria Demonya? Alisin ang VAT doon sa small businesses at mga basic needs. Bobo naman ang nagpanukala niyan!
Yuko,
Asawa ni Ate Vi ang nagpanuka ng VAT, si Recto na marahil kung buhay si Don Claro ay dadagukan ang kanyang hindi klarong apo.
Dahil pinayayaman niya ng husto si Gloriang Korap, ia-appoint siya sa NEDA at para tuluyang busalan ang mga empleado doon na nagsimulang mag-ingay sa anomalya.
Dapat ang NEDA employees ay ituloy ang reklamo laban sa katiwalian sa tanggapan at kung anuman ang kanilang nalalaman sa ZTE/NBN at iba pang projects na sa NEDA dumadaan. Sila rin, matutulad sila sa DFA employees, naging bulag, pipi at bingi na rin sa katiwalian…nawalan ng ‘class’.
From Neri…to Recto. Dasal na lang tayong muli!
There are only a few Filipinos who have managed to be consistently right and in the right these crazy last few years and one of them is Mar Roxas. Kung merong eleksyon sa 2010, masasayang lang kung hindi si Roxas ang mananalo.
We have been looking for the right issue to bring to the people and this one landed on our lap like a manna from heaven. Dapat lang na malaman ng tao ang pahirap ng VAT sa petrolyo na ginagawang pampasarap sa buhay ng mga Dorobo.
Ellen,
This is a timely and critically important topic for discussion. Unfortunately, there are no “macro-economic intel stats” that have been brought into the analysis.
The basic resolution to the question of whether the VAT is a viable and effective and efficient economic solution to the ailing tax revenue and tax collection systems is based on the following fundamental principles:
a.) One’s understanding of the purpose of the VAT.
b.) In the Philippines, how many actually file income tax returns and pay their tax liabilities?
c.) One’s understanding between macro-economics versus
micro-economics.
d.) One’s knowledge of how the Philippine economy actually works. What kind of economic policy it adheres to, and one’s
understanding of the differences between monetary policy versus fiscal policy. What is the predominant economic policy in operation in the Philippines?
There appears to be a concern here that the taxes that are collected thru VAT go direct to Malacanang and are pocketed and disposed of at will by the residents of the Palace. Now, how credible is that?
Let me suggest in the simplest but firmest of terms. In a democracy, a government exists primarily for two basic reasons and purposes:
First – to protect its citizens.
Second – to provide individual citizens and their entire society, social services.
=============
The rest of whatever anybody can think of, concoct, or imagine are nothing but “embellishments” – i.e., add ons or “bennies” which the liberal, leftwing, radical proponents have long been trying to sell as “government obligations and must do…”
—————–
I do not subscribe to that latter view. I subscribe rather to the “principle of subsidiarity”, which avers that: “Whatever the private individuals and private citizens can do…no State or organized institution ought to do.”
It is from this sacred principle (propounded in a Papal Encyclical) that the famous JFK was conceived: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”
It is a very common sight, to witness people complain that their government is not doing enough for them…like giving them jobs, or subsidies, bennies, emoluments…etc.
Again, the job of the government is to provide:
a.) security and protection to its citizens, against domestic law breakers, and external transgressors.
b.)provide necessary and basic social services, like good roads, drainage and sewage systems, and all the other infrastructures needed to deliver and transport the basic necessities of each household, and provide the society the creature comforts to be able to function optimally as a society.
And for as long as these two basic needs are met…the government can be considered doing its job. The idea that the government must balance its budget is an enigmatic illusion. This is not the basic responsibility of a government. An balanced economy or an economy in equilibrium is not the ultimate goal of government.
It is to PROTECT, and SERVE. Period.
So, granting, for the sake of argument, that these two are the only goal of the government, do you think the illegal gov’t of Arroyo is doing a damn good job at it? I don’t think so!
Here’s the point: if the government’s only purpose is to Serve and Protect, what need do we have of the government when private armies and private armies of alalays can very well do the job. Only to serve and protect? oh, please!!
Well, not in Gloria’s kleptocracy. Period!!
Pepeton said: “It is to PROTECT, and SERVE. Period.”
ok naman ang protect and serve ni pepeton pero nalimutan niya na protect and serve gma ang resulta at hindi protect and serve the people.
I agree 100%. My beef with this government is that it is concerned with balancing the budget more than protecting its citizens and providing basic social services, as per most of their press releases.
PROTECT is a transitive verb. What is the direct object in this case? I hope it is ‘the people’ and neither ‘our own selfish interest’ nor ‘our stay in Malacanang’.
SERVE maybe intransitive depending on the context by which it is used. Again, I hope that it is used in the context of SERVING the general welfare and not just SERVING empty promises on deceit-plated trays.
Okay, so majority of Filipinos do not pay income taxes. Why should they when they do not have stable jobs and income? Kaya ba binabawi sa VAT para walang puedeng makalusot? Highway robbery pati gobyerno!
Kawawang Pilipinas!
Protect and serve who? The crooks who have cheated in the election? So they can go on expensive junkets overseas. Mahiya naman sila!
And why pay taxes to sustain/subsidize a corrupt regime/government? No need to be honest in doing one’s supposed government if it is run by criminals who just actually just cannot be prosecuted and sent to jail because the police, prosecutors and judges re just as corrupt as the crooks they try to protect and serve!!! Ang laki yata ng bayad coming from taxpayers’ money sa mga sipsip.
Filipinos cannot actually survive with mere playing of words. Wala namang sense sa totoo lang, puro meaningless palabra lang.
First – to protect its citizens.
Second – to provide individual citizens and their entire society, social services.
————————————————————
If we are to accept what the government’s performance now as “doing its job” then it is…in a mediocre kind of way…but what so we expect, we’re Filipinos, we’re used to “pasang awa” or “pakitang tao” so long as somebody can explain it in an “intellectual” manner (tipong hindi maintindihan ng madlang people) and so long as somebody can show some “powerpoint” presentations with all the economic jargons. Heck, if we listened to this administration’s self-praises ever since it started, we’d think we were living in a Singapore-like standard of living. The economy is doing well ladies and gentlemen, we have all the GDP growth and economic indicators, not to mention foreign investments flooding the country. Just take a look at the past SONA with all the infrastructure roadmap, information highway, and more nice-sounding words that the majority can really feel – “ramdam na ramdam and asenso” as the TV ad on the a government-owned station keeps harping.
I’m sorry to disagree with “the government is doing its job” because where I come from, if you do not do a job well enough (up to standards) you are not doing it at all. Or, is this really “our” standard? Hanggang dito na lang ba? If its micro and macro economic proof we need, the administration’s image team can whip up a very impressive and expensive presentation overnight (baka nga may on file Then again, don’t blame it on the government, blame it on global economy – the whole world is on the brink!
I do not subscribe to this snobbery of jargons. Personally, some of the things I look for in government is:
1. The standard of living of its constituents. Simply put, “wala bang nagugutom?”
2. Nakapag-aral ba ang nakakarami?
3. Wala bang naapi?
4. Is there no incidence of illegal detention? Missing? (talk about to protect).
5. Accountability or even willingness to be held accountable.
As long as someone can shrug off hunger as “common” because sometimes she misses eating breakfast, or hide behind “prove it in court” when questioned about accountability (and evidences disappear, like contracts, etc.) the government is doing its job – iba nga lang siguro and job description. So lets be grateful that we have a government doing its job and stop whining! These guys will just point out the obvious, its all our fault, this government is doing its heroic best and we’re giving it a hard time…
Ano yan, si Robocop!
Ano yan, si Robocop!
————————————————————Hahahaha! What are your prime directives? chi, halata na naman young edad mo.
“To protect and serve…the President!” Parang kilala ko kung kanino dating job description to ah? Ngayon taga taguyod sa matahimik na pamamaraan…sori bisaya kasi… 🙂
Jug,
Just watched it last night on On Demand, tapos sinundan ng Captain York (1932?) that brought Oscar to Gary Cooper, then onto Skeleton Key of Kate Hudson. I’m waiting for the twins of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt kasi…ang tagal. 🙂
***
“What are your prime directives?” – To corrupt and plunder the economy for my personal interests!
Ewan ko ba, protect and serve daw.
“Protect” Gloria’s allocations…
“Serve” herself!
That’s all folks!
“To protect and serve…the President!” – The Ass
What Mar Roxas said in his interview in DZBB is crystal clear. The question now is: “How much longer could the Filipino people endure this corrupt administration?” There is this talk going around that the price of crude oil could continue to soar upto August. What else is needed to arouse the people’s anger to finally take it to themselves and boot out this bogus administration at Malacanang? Did you guys hear What Ermita said in TV about Neri’s being continually covered by this so called “executive privilege by virtue of an executive order? Makes me hit the roof. All I can do at the moment is realize the fact that someday (I’m not sure when) they’re all going down. The people will then gloat over their downfall. Boy, I tell you, that’ll be the day.
You don’t support a corrupt regime. You demolish it by hook or by crook! I know we are able to do so over in the land of the fluctuating yen. I really appreciate what committed and concerned Japanese of generations before me that we are now what we are and have what we have for a government that I understand very well indeed as a government OF, FOR and BY the people.
People in the government are public servants, and we are not paying taxes to protect and preserve them. It is the other way around, and so, when a government fails to do just that, it has to be dissolved even by drastic means if needed!
Kaya what are people there waiting for? Patalsikin na, now na!
You don’t support a corrupt regime. – Yuko
In some countries, yes. Unfortunately Pinas is one. Thanks to the CBCP d’ Assbitchcraps; AFP d’ Almed/Armed Forces of Pidal (the true soldiers not included); and PNP (Police ni Pidal, we have one of the most corrupt regimes in recent history.
Let us not forget that
Let us not forget that Mar was once a part of this corrupt Arroyo Regime. Nagsimula bilang DTI Secretary ni Erap, nguni’t ng tumagilid ang barko ni Erap, agad tumalon si Mar Roxas at iniwan ang among inalagaan siyang parang anak. Agad ding tinanggap ang iniwang posisyon ng maupo si Gloria Arroyo sa palasyo.
Nang manalong Senador noong 2004 sa ticket ni Gloria, ay nanahimik at di narinig ng 3 taon si Mr. Palengke.
Ngayon panay ang papel, sa bawat popular na isyu ay sumasakay. Siyempre, alam naman natin na ang tanging rason ay ang kanyang pagtakbo bilang Pangulo sa 2010. Di ba’t masyado ng huli ang iyong pag-iingay Mar? Ano ang nangyari mula 2004 hanggang 2007? Bakit di ka man lang narinig ng mga bumoto sa iyo bilang Mr. Palengke?
Huli ka na ata, Mr. Palengke, pakasalan mo na lang si Korina ng di ka na pag isipang Bading!
Andres, it was for the reason you mentioned above that I don’t support Mar Roxas. The guy cannot be trusted. Turncoats and traitors should not be supported. But among the opposition presidential aspirants, who are truly opposition?
From Al SantaClara:
I am about to become a senior citizen and that means that 40 years ago, about 1968, I was a student at DLSC (it was a college then, not a university) and I always sat next to Chito Sta. Romana, our Student council leader who led us during the rallies in the first quarter storm. I have seen and experienced the presidential rules of Macapagal, Marcos (and the martial law years), Cory, Ramos and Erap. I thought that Marcos was the worst but in fairness to his memory, he has at least some good years and a lot of accomplishments in infrastructure (the NLEX, SLEX, C5,) and had a vision of the future.
He had his share of corruption but at least some things were done and he always respected the Church and some institutions. He at least tried to find a legal basis for his actions. What makes him worse are the killings.
Compared to this daughter of Macapagal, Marcos looks like a saint.
The way things are doing nowadays, one would suspect that she is in a conspiracy with the oil companies to keep the price increasing so the “Katas ng VAT” would really reach astronomical levels and one asks why does she plays a deaf ear to clamor to scrap at least the 12VAT on oil products and electricity or at least bring everything to the 10% VAT regime, where these products were VAT free.
I think she is bent on building a “2010 election money chest” in hundreds of billions. If she does not step down (which I think will be bad for the Phil) and she decides to do the 2010 election with her “candidate”, she will again spend ALL OUR VAT TAXES to “steal the election for her candidate” by funding a thousand Garcillanos and Bedols.
So I think it is time for a little civil disobedience in the payment of VAT (see below on how it should be done).
From Vina Fundamera:
Grabe ang mahal ng bilihin ngayon. Within this week, tataas pa ang pamasahe.
May measures daw na ipatutupad ang government. kung anuman yun o kung me budget na ilalabas as subsidy, sigurado kotongan na naman yun na magreresulta sa mas mahal na bilihin in the future.
Hanga din naman ako sa mga yun pagdating sa pagkakakitaan nila masyadong maparaan.kung kulang pa ang nanakawin ipapangutang pa.Walang kabusugan.Yung VAT ibabalik daw ang koleksyon sa anyo ng service.
Bakit hindi nila hayaan ang taong magpasya kung saan dadalhin ang perang pinaghirapan nila. Isusubo na lang kokotongan pa.
I wish to know what year the above author graduated from La Salle. La Salle became a university and Coed during the late 70s following Ateneo. The author could have graduated in the early 70s.
Anyway, GMA is meeting the Bishops again to explain the VAT and oil problem. Will white envelopes be handed out again? The Bishops usually become quiet after meeting with GMA.
Political purpose/gimik lang ni Roxas yang panukalang yan, kung PRO-POOR nga sya, bakit yong Araneta Center na pag-aari ng pamilya nya kung tratuhin ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan sobra-sobra.
“Ayaw lang nilang humakbang kasi pinipigilan sila ng Malacañang. Kung sumenyas lang ang Malacañang na okey sa kanila ito, at aaksyon kaagad ang Kamara, mabilis pa sa alas kwatro, mapapasa ito, maisasabatas ito.”- Mar
Ay nampucha naman, klaro na ang pinoy ay hostage ni Gloria at Nognograles. So, wala talagang magagawa ang Senado, hindi pwedeng overtake ang Tongress na sinususi ni bitch. Lumayas kayo lahat sa Malacanang, Tongressmen at Senatongs!
Inutil pala kayong lahat, maliban kay Trillanes!
Iyan ang mga Robotong. Aksyon agad kapag may nakitang tongpats.
Bitchevil,
Si Sen. Lacson lang ang tunay na opposition. Kaya nyang iwan si Erap dahil na rin sa pang iimbita nya sa mga taga administration na pwede sila sumali sa ticket ng administrasyon… Mtatandaang sinabi ni Sen. Lacson na kahit hindi sya i-endorso ni Erap tatakbo syang independent para malabanan ang administrasyon…Kya sabi nya masyado ng puno ang jeep ni Erap baka mamaya yong mga taga opposition pa ang malalag sa byahe…
Chi,
Tama ka, si Sen. Trillanes lang ang ang matibay at lumalaban, bukod sa kanya at ky Sen. Lacson, lahat na sila ay inutil!!!!
Bitchevil,
sorry nagkamali ako, ibig ko sabihin, iniimbeta ni erap ang taga administrasyon na sumali sa ticket ng opposition, hehehe….
Ano ba namang argumento iyan, Pepeton, you started on VAT’s viability tapos ang daming premise, kesyo may micro- at macro-economics ekek ka pa, kesyo may difference ang monetary and fiscal policies ka pang binabanggit tapos yung conclusion e serve and protect lang? Period? I demand you return the two minutes of my life I wasted reading your comment.
I’m afraid simpletons may even take you seriously.
I also disagree with your approach, now let’s see your departure. And as a friendly reminder, stay out of crack. It makes people incoherent.
Oi, I forgot Ping. Sori Ping, your my man! Dalawa nga pala kayo ni Sonny sa boto ko.
I demand you (Pepeton) return the two minutes of my life I wasted reading your comment. – Tongue
bwahahahahaha!!!
Umangal ang catholic bishops sa VAT. Siempre naman..sila ang laging nakasakay sa kotse..mahirap ang mga tao kaya mahina ang collection..yong may kaya naman asar sa kanila kaya umaalis na sa Simbahang catolico humina din ang collection…so ngayon pinatawag sila ni putot and they will be given subsidy..kawawa naman ang mga pastor ng ibang simbahan..are they also subsidized? discrimination ito ah!
Rose,
What they talked about inside Gloria’s fake office was birth control NOT VAT, reports said.
Kasi iyong umaaapaw na koleksyon ni Gloria sa VAT ay naka brown bag na!
Kaya nga walang asenso ang Pilipinas, kasi maraming idiots pretending to be geniuses na akala mo tunay na may nalalaman wala naman pala. Pasa ng pasa ng mga batas/panukala pero hindi naman praktikal at walang nakikinabang kundi iyong mga magnanakaw na nakapuwesto sa gobyernong palpak din kung iisipin.
E kundi ba naman gago at kalahati rin, alam nang hudas iyong mga umuupo sa Malacanang, sukat bang lalo pa palang binigyan ng lakas para mang-abuso ang mga presidente simula noong 1986. Iyan ang gago!!!
Gaya ng gaya kasi sa mga kano, hindi naman mga amerikano kung tutuusin! Kawawang bansa pa ang labas!
Whenever white or brown envelopes are going to be distributed to the Bishops, GMA calls for a meeting.
Umangal iyong mga pari, sabi ninyo? I doubt. Kunyari lang iyong angal. Mukhang trick din nila ang maggalit-galitan kuno para maghanda ng supot-supot si Pandack Omama. Tapos may kunyari pa raw hindi kasama sa mga kurakot na pari, pero nakasahod din ang mga kamay.
Naalala ko tuloy iyong sabi ni Imelda na malaki ang ibinibigay niyang abuloy kay Sin noong nakaupo pa sila, pero siguro mas malaki iyong offer ng mga kanong natakot kay Marcos dahil hindi na siya nakikinig sa kanila.
Pero bilib ka sa mga pilipino. Pati religion pinakakakuwartahan. Dami dito sa Japan ngayon na mga pilipinong pastor this and pastor that at may mga polyeto pa ng panghihingi ng pera. Nagyayaya sa mga simbahan daw nila na imbes na tungkol sa Dios ang itinuturo, panghihingi ng abuloy ang ginagawa. Ginagaya iyong istilo ni Mike Velarde na nagbibigay ng supot-supot sa mga dadalo daw ng mga meeting nila para lagyan ng abuloy para basbasan daw ng Diyos. Wow! Iyan ang example ng suhol! Pati Dios sinusuhulan para mabasbasan. Iyan ang utak kurakot sa totoo lang!
Kaya nga sabi ko doon sa isang nangangalap ng pera, “Sorry, hindi ako naghahanap na ng ibang pananampalataya kasi stable na ako sa religion ko na naglapit sa akin sa Panginoon na hindi ko kailangang suhulan para ako basbasan. At ang turo sa amin ay sumunod ka sa mga Utos ng Diyos at makinig sa ebanghelyo ni Hesukristo at Diyos na ang bahala sa iyo.”
Sa totoo lang ang dami pang tsetseburetse, ang lagpak din pala pangungurakot ng mga abuloy dahil ang ipinapairal sa mga pilipino, “kung magbigay ka ng pera sa mga relihiyoso, ligtas ka na!” Yuck!
To protect and serve the president? Gago din ano? Ang alam ko to protect and serve the country and people, not the public servants!!!
Look at how many Filipino healing priests making a profitable living. Look at this Fr. Suarez who is even banned in Toronto. They used to say that to become rich, be a politician. Today, one could also be rich by being a preacher or so called “healing priest”.
As they say, people don’t learn to appreciate a person’s accomplishment until after he is long gone. Mr. Herman Tiu Laurel fondly called as Ka Mentong used to be a street activist during the Marcos regime. Please read what he says now:
Marcos was right. Marcos became president in 1965 and he already set out to do the basic physical and socio-economic infrastructure of a new nation. Reparations payment from Japan went to a road infrastructure to link the northern tip of the archipelago to the southernmost islands; public investments went into agricultural expansion for food self-sufficiency; and after the experience of the 1971 to 1973 skyrocketing of oil and energy prices, Marcos invested national resources heavily on oil and energy development. If those programs for energy and fuel self-reliance had been allowed by the succeeding government of Cory Aquino to proceed as planned, we would not be suffering from the horrendous and nationally enervating fuel and energy price crisis we have today.
Cory Aquino was dead wrong. She was wrong in scuttling the Marcos food, fuel and energy programs. She was wrong in consenting to the de-industrialization of the country’s economy, the selling of the Mariveles vehicle body stamping plant to China and scuttling the engine manufacturing plant in Bicutan, among many other industrial operations dismantled. Worse, scuttling the energy programs and initiating selling off energy companies. Even Cory Aquino’s so-called “restoration of democracy” was wrong because she converted Marcos’ nationalist authoritarianism to a patrician plutocracy of the old elite and feudal aristocracy of Philippine society. She started everything that is now eating our society up like a plague.
Tax on imported oil is correct, but Congress (and Mar Roxas was senator back then as he is senator now) made a mistake. Instead of tax as percent of sales, the tax should have been per-barrel. [ Similarly, the tax on diesel should be per-liter.] Then government-“intake” does not benefit from the rise of oil from $40 per barrel to $140 per barrel.
Mar Roxas is not that brilliant an economist.
It was Recto who pushed for uniformity and all-encompassing coverage of VAT for all sales transactions. Except Cigarettes and Liquor. Both are slapped excise tax based on volume, not price. But cigarettes, which prices have multiplied over the years, are still paying the fixed specific taxes. And that is wrong. It should have been subject to RVAT too.
While I agree with Pepito that oil should have been levied excise tax, hindsight is always 20/20. Nobody knew at that time that oil would be forecast to hit $200 anytime soon. The specific tax on oil should have been “12% VAT OR $6 (or $7 or $8) per barrel, WHICHEVER IS LOWER”.
That puts an upper limit to what government can add to the woes of its people in terms of oil prices.
Since apparently the situation now was not considered when the law on VAT was being crafted, it should be reviewed to address the heavy burden that it is imposing on the people.