Pancit Canton: mamahal na ba? Posted at 01:48 PM Bayan Muna Rep. Joel G. Virador 27 January 2005 The terms “anti-people” and “anti-poor” policies refer to policies and actions that go against the interest of the poor majority. House Bill 3555 gives a distinct “face” to these terms in the harshest manner. The proposed 10% to 12% increase in Value-Added Tax stands to hit the poorest of the poor since basic commodities are covered by this bill. No amount of so-called exemption of sardines, noodles, and bread nor of ‘slight increases’ in prices will hide the fact that the consumers will inevitably bear the burden of yet another round of price increases. There is no need to increase the VAT rate because government’s poor VAT collections stem from its very failure to arrest VAT leakage. Based on figures from the National Tax Research Center, average leakage from VAT has been estimated at 29.8% annually from 1998 to 2002. This is equivalent to annual losses of about P41.6 B. Add to this the various exemptions granted to several businesses which in 2003 alone amounted to P 195.5 B. Total amount of tax and duty exemptions in the same year amounted to P299.2 B. As a representative of the poor and marginalized sectors and especially as a Mindanaoan, I am concerned that House Bill 3555 will further plunge Mindanao into the steepest levels of poverty. The so-called “land of promise” and “land of plenty” is not evident among the people as nearly half of the estimated 20 million population live at or below the poverty threshold. The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has the highest number of poor families at 68.8 percent, followed by Region XII (50.9 percent). In August 2004, a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey revealed that Mindanao has the highest incidence of hunger at 23 percent. Poverty in Mindanao comprised 32 percent of the Philippine’s total poor population in 2000. With unemployment in the island reaching an alarming double digit rate of 10.15% in 2003, the people need this bill like a nail in the head. Moreover, it is clear that this bill underscores government’s continued subservience to impositions of international finance institutions led by the International Monetary Fund. As early as 1999, the IMF has strongly pushed for a VAT increase as stated in its Memorandum on Economic and Financial Policies that same year. Finally, for a measure that stands to gravely impact on the people, none of these people were ever given the chance to air their side on this bill. Bayan Muna will not and will never be instrumental to the passage of any measure in Congress that will go against the interest and welfare of the people. READ THIS: in relation with the VAT increase... SPLAT SPLAT SPLAT… pieces of paper, ballpen, and coffee on my desk… its past 2 am, still studying for my moving exam in Anatomy tomorrow… err… I’m too tired of studying, but I’ve got no other choice, its already semi-final… ho-hum… I’m hungry, a cup of coffee wont satisfy my hunger… I need to buy a pancit canton… It was quite creepy at dawn along the streets. Got to go to a 24 hour store to buy some pancit canton… Reaching the pancit canton from the counter, I heard this very familiar voice… Oh its mike! My classmate in history… It’s maybe because of financial problems that He’s working in this store… I greet him… and he was surprised of seeing me at that wee hour of the day… I talked to him and asked him some questions… and because I want to unwind myself, I spare him some of my minutes chatting after paying the pancit canton. CLICK CLICK CLICK… on my hands on the mouse as I was enjoying my pancit canton… Surfing the net, checking my tabulas, and chat to my friends… brp… ahhm, the pancit canton really taste good… SPLAT SPLAT SPLAT!!! Back on my work… fells sleepy, it’s because I’m full. Precisely, the respiration rate decreases.. brp.. Excuse me… READING READING READING… goodness, the information won’t get inside my brain… Looking at the table, I found a news paper, It’s my father’s… I stand up and read the front page… WHHAATT??? …. The House Bill 3555 was already approved by the congress… only 11 congressmen disapproved out from 126 who approved the bill. There were more than 20 congressmen who walked out saying “Ang boses nang masa ay nawala na”… I know at first place, that the 2% increase of VAT will really affect the poorest sectors of the country. In a split of seconds, I remembered Mike… He was indeed a hard working student. He studies in the morning and works in the evening. I couldn’t imagine how he maintains good grades in school. As a working scholar in the school, he never bother to receive even to a very MINIMAL WAGE of 100 pesos a MONTH, that’s because he really needs the money. His father is a farmer and has worked very hard to support him. Sometimes, his allowance got delayed. I really wonder how he budgets his money from his dad, receiving only 1000 per month. How about his daily expenses? House rental? And house bills? Here comes the additional 2% VAT… another additional blah blah blah… If this HOUSE BILL will be approved, and be implemented as a law, there will be another thousands of MIKES who will double their effort, and another millions of MIKE that will suffer… Reading another passage…. “ECONOMY GROWS 6.1% on 2004... “ hindi ko man lang naramdaman…” I said to myself… I’m too sleepy, I have to go to bed... It’s almost 4 am… before I go to my room, I went to my 3 yr old brothers room and watched them closely… such innocence… what will be their future? Will he be another Mike?... sigh… The House Bill is now in the SENATE, and we can still do something about it…  I dont want to buy another pancit canton higher than its previous value ~bow~ How about you??? are you with the VAT increase or against with it??? da preman nyuws. elektrikpang gakarag. 130 crux criticorum
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