Pacquiao to give LGUs equal share of VAT proceeds

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) will get equal shares of the funds generated from the value-added tax (VAT) if Sen. Manny Pacquiao is elected president on May 9, his running mate for vice president House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza said.

Speaking at the 10th General Assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), Atienza appealed to local chief executives to help him and Pacquiao in their campaign to lead the country.

Stressing a new direction in leadership, the Buhay party-list representative said in Filipino: “I’m hoping that you would help Manny Pacquiao and yours truly because we understand the solution to the problem of Filipinos.”

He said LGUs need an equal share of funds from the VAT to strengthen their local economy.

“Money is needed by local officials to be able to work more effectively; and the promises we give you during the campaign are to be fulfilled after the elections,” he said.

Atienza said this should have been done “from the very beginning,” but the problem is that the country has a centralized government and it has not been effective in helping the ordinary people.

Pacquiao, the world boxing icon turned politician, is running on a platform of weeding out corruption in government.