Tax reform package to fund ‘pro-people’ projects — economic managers

“Kausap namin yung mga hepe ng economic agencies, e, pumayag naman sila for five years na i-allot natin sa pro-people projects, pangtulong sa mahihirap (We spoke to heads of economic agencies and they agreed to allot revenue for pro-people projects for five years),” Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara told reporters in an interview. (PNA Photo)

MANILA — Economic managers have agreed to use revenue from the Duterte administration’s proposed tax reform package to “pro-people” projects, a senator said Thursday.

“Kausap namin yung mga hepe ng economic agencies, e, pumayag naman sila for five years na i-allot natin sa pro-people projects, pangtulong sa mahihirap (We spoke to heads of economic agencies and they agreed to allot revenue for pro-people projects for five years),” Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara told reporters in an interview.

Angara said that pro-people projects that should be funded include the free college law, the expansion of free dialysis coverage, and the improvement of public transportation system.

“Sana, hindi na magbago yung ganung agreement. Kumbaga, pag-uusapan na lang kung saan talaga ilalagay (I hope the agreement doesn’t change. We’re really going to talk about where it should be placed),” he added.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the government can collect some PHP134 billion during the first year of implementation of the proposed tax reform package.

In a separate interview, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that delivering the PHP200 could be a “really big challenge” in sending the amount to families who live in the mountains and other far-flung areas.

The tax-reform package seeks to lower personal income tax rates, expand the value-added tax (VAT) base, raise excise taxes on petroleum and automobiles, impose an excise tax on sugar sweetened beverages and ease the rates of estate and donor’s taxes.