Amidst the devastation caused by typhoon Pedring, and with the threat of two more typhoons coming into the country, Taxpayers’ Unity Against Toll Fee Hike in the SLEX (TUTOL-SLEX) challenged Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino today, three days before the imposition of the Value-Added Tax on toll fees, to suspend the measure.
The taxpayers’ alliance said the imposition of the VAT on toll fees is comparable to the outgoing and incoming typhoons in that it will cause the devastation of people’s incomes and livelihood, on top of the damage wrought by the weather disturbances.
“The imposition of the VAT on toll fees on October 1 is a typhoon in its own right. It will cause damage in the incomes and livelihood of Filipinos. It will cause deaths, only indirectly and slowly,” said Sammy Malunes, TUTOL-SLEX spokesperson.
“But the typhoon that is the imposition of VAT on toll fees is man-made and can be prevented. We challenge Pres. Aquino to suspend the implementation of the measure before October 1,” he added.
Like buying a Porsche
TUTOL-SLEX said Pres. Aquino should not be so insensitive to the plight of the poor, especially amidst consecutive typhoons, so as to push through with the implementing the measure on the said date.
“Pres. Aquino said that his government is not manhid (impervious) to the suffering of the people. But talk is cheap. He should suspend, at the very least, the imposition of the VAT on toll fees if he really is sincere in saying this,” Malunes said.
“If he does not suspend the implementation of the VAT on toll fees amidst the consecutive typhoons, he will be showing that his government is callous towards the poor – in a way that will ignite a condemnation more intense than when he bought a Porsche,” he added.
Vibrant discussion
Malunes said typhoon Pedring and the incoming typhoons have overshadowed a lively public debate on the imposition of VAT on toll fees.
“While we take stock of the devastations caused by the typhoons, we should not lose sight of a typhoon that is about to enter our lives on October 1. The typhoons have overshadowed what promises to be a vibrant public discussion on the issue of VAT on tolls,” he said.
“The stalling of protests against the imposition of the VAT on tolls on the eve of the latter should not be used by the Aquino government as an opportunity to ram the measure down people’s throats,” he added. Sammy Malunes, TUTOL-SLEX Spokesperson
