Villar opposes new taxes

Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. opposed yesterday the imposition of new taxes, urging tax collection agencies to be more efficient instead.

He expressed opposition to new levies even as three of his colleagues sought a 30 percent increase in the present taxes on cigars and cigarettes.

The proposed increase is contained in Bill 9044 filed by Representatives Jacinto Paras (LAMP, Negros Oriental), Rodolfo Tuazon (LAMP, Western Samar) and Aniceto Saludo (LAMP, Southern Leyte).

Villar said improved collection "is a better alternative than any new tax law that will further burden our people."

He said if the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs are able to increase their efficiency by 10 percent, that would mean additional collections of P48 billion based on their combined target of P480 billion this year.

"That is more than any new tax measure can hope to raise," he added.

He stressed that new tax laws "will only divide Filipinos and cause disenchantment as people are already burdened enough."

Villar pointed out that imposing taxes at this time would mean making Filipinos pay for the inefficiency of the BIR, Customs and other revenue-collecting agencies.

He suggested that if impositions are needed, these should be shouldered by the rich "who can well afford them."

The House ways and means committee, which is chaired by Rep. Danilo Suarez (LAMP, Quezon), is considering a number of tax proposals, including those which would tax water extraction, the use of cellular telephones and stay in motels.

Suarez has also sought an increase in the existing levies on cigarettes and alcoholic drinks.

His proposed adjustment on cigarette taxes ranges from P2 --or from P1 to P3 per pack for low-priced cigarettes --to P4, or from P8 to P12 per high-priced packs.

While Suarez has yet to draft the bill containing his proposal, Paras, Tuazon and Saludo jumped the gun on him by seeking a lower adjustment.

The three lawmakers' recommended increase is equivalent to 30 centavos for low-priced cigarettes and P2.40 for the high-priced.