Palace defends VAT on oil, says removing the measure will impact on pro-poor govt programs
Malacanang defended the imposition of value added tax (VAT) on oil saying removing the measures will impact on government programs that help the poor.
The government has been criticized for not considering removing or at least reducing the percentage on the tax on oil products in the midst of the continuing increases in the prices of petroleum products.
There are reports saying Vice President Jejomar Binay called on the administration to cut VAT on oil. Also, a well-known economist proposed for a temporary reduction of VAT on oil being imposed by the government.
In a radio interview Saturday over state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the continuous imposition of VAT is not anti-poor and those opposing it are jumping to a wrong conclusion.
“But the fact is, if we take it away… if we temporarily suspend imposing the VAT on oil, may mawawalan po ng revenue, meron pong mga programang mawawalan ng pondo at merong mga taong matitigil yung kanilang benepisyo na kinukuha doon sa mga programang yun,” Valte said.
“And then there is also no solution to that. Parang ang gusto ho nilang (critics) gawin is to take funding from another project at the expense naman of those people who are benefiting from those projects.”
While some consider the lifting of VAT on oil a populace measure, Valte said the public must also think of the implications once the government removes the tax measure being imposed on oil.
“We have to remember that there are implications. You cannot just remove VAT on oil and act as if it is in a vacuum. The reality is if you take away a funding source merong mawawalan, merong mabubutasan, merong maaapektuhan,” she said.
But with regards to the suggestion of the vice president, Valte said they will mention it to the President. Also, she said they’ll ask for the guidance of the finance department on the proposal to reduce the percentage of the tax being imposed on oil. (PCOO)
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Rise in number of female Filipino managers, a good news, Palace says
A global ranking, showing more Filipino women occupying senior business posts compared to other countries, is something to be proud of, a Palace official said on Saturday.
Malacanang defended the imposition of value added tax (VAT) on oil saying removing the measures will impact on government programs that help the poor.
The government has been criticized for not considering removing or at least reducing the percentage on the tax on oil products in the midst of the continuing increases in the prices of petroleum products.
There are reports saying Vice President Jejomar Binay called on the administration to cut VAT on oil. Also, a well-known economist proposed for a temporary reduction of VAT on oil being imposed by the government.
In a radio interview Saturday over state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the continuous imposition of VAT is not anti-poor and those opposing it are jumping to a wrong conclusion.
“But the fact is, if we take it away… if we temporarily suspend imposing the VAT on oil, may mawawalan po ng revenue, meron pong mga programang mawawalan ng pondo at merong mga taong matitigil yung kanilang benepisyo na kinukuha doon sa mga programang yun,” Valte said.
“And then there is also no solution to that. Parang ang gusto ho nilang (critics) gawin is to take funding from another project at the expense naman of those people who are benefiting from those projects.”
While some consider the lifting of VAT on oil a populace measure, Valte said the public must also think of the implications once the government removes the tax measure being imposed on oil.
“We have to remember that there are implications. You cannot just remove VAT on oil and act as if it is in a vacuum. The reality is if you take away a funding source merong mawawalan, merong mabubutasan, merong maaapektuhan,” she said.
But with regards to the suggestion of the vice president, Valte said they will mention it to the President. Also, she said they’ll ask for the guidance of the finance department on the proposal to reduce the percentage of the tax being imposed on oil. (PCOO)
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Rise in number of female Filipino managers, a good news, Palace says
A global ranking, showing more Filipino women occupying senior business posts compared to other countries, is something to be proud of, a Palace official said on Saturday.
During a radio interview on Saturday over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said a recent ranking made by international accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton had the Philippines as one of the nations having large number female top executives.
“Speaking of International Women’s Month and International Women’s Day, may maganda tayong balitang nabasa kanina doon sa isa sa mga pahayagan that ang Philippines daw ay pangalawa na ang ranking globally doon sa mga babae that are occupying senior business posts,” Valte said.
“Marami tayong mga babae who are occupying senior positions in multi-national corporations and in boardrooms. So that’s something to show on for our women’s rights advocates,” she added.
Citing Grant Thornton’s 2011 International Business Report, Valte said the country’s ranking improved from 35 percent to 39 percent in terms of the number of female senior executives in the country. Russia tops the list of countries with the most number of female senior executives.
Grant Thornton’s International Business Report showed that 39 percent of senior managers in the Philippines are women, a level tied with the Thailand and Botswana and just behind the 46 percent rate recorded for Russia.
Despite the high rank of the Philippines and Thailand, the firm said that for Southeast Asia, the proportion of women in senior management fell to 32 percent this year from 36 percent in 2009.
In Europe however, the level has increased to 24 percent this year, compared with 20 percent in 2009. (PCOO)
