In an interview on DZBB, Sen. Lacson answers questions on:
– DPWH claimants named John Doe and Unknown
– Merits of removing exemptions from the VAT
– Pork-like entries in the proposed 2018 budget
– NPAs as ‘terrorist’ group
Quotes from the interview…
On newest irregularity involving DPWH:
“(Ang nasa list of claimants ng DPWH), Unknown, John Doe. Papaano babayaran ng gobyerno si John Doe, papaano babayaran ng gobyerno si Unknown? E claimant. Nakalagay roon may budget tayo sa claimant na yan, may item, pero Unknown o kung di Unknown, John Doe. Kukuwestyunin ko yan.”
On public vigilance on taxes and the budget:
“Ang masasabi ko lang di lang magbantay. Mag-aral muna… So siguro it takes maski an hour a day mag-aral na rin tayo tungkol sa taxation, sa budget, para maintindihan natin ang issue para alam din natin pag nagdedebate kung ano ang tama at alam natin ang mali.”
On the huge number of VAT exemptions in the Philippines:
“Para tayong nag-inflate ng balloon, lalagyan ng helium para ito mag-float sa hangin. Pero in the course na ini-inflate natin walang tigil na kappa-puncture, nalagyan natin ng butas. At ang mga butas na ito sa PH, umabot tayo ng 143, ito ang VAT exemptions. 143, napakalaki”
“Kasi VAT-exempt enterprises, businesses, nagtatamasa na sila ng VAT exemptions for the longest time. Mula 2000, napakatagal na at di lang VAT exemption ang kanilang ine-enjoy. Marami silang tax holiday tulad ng income tax at kung anu-anong tax holidays, may 7 years 5 years di sila nagbabayad ng income tax. Tapos iba pang mga perks.”
“Tayo 143 (ang exemptions), parang unconscionable na parang for the longest time tinatamasa nila VAT exemptions. Baka pwede give back to the country, give back to the population at large.”
How VAT exemptions affect the PH tourism industry:
“Mataas rate ng hotel natin kasi inclusive of VAT 12% sa atin sa Thailand 7%. So sabi ng turista, sa Thailand tayo mas mura roon o sa Malaysia kasi 6% lang ang VAT, kalahati ng PH. Ito ang intangible na kung ipapaliwanag sana e makikita natin in an indirect way nagsa-suffer ang economy natin in terms of tourism, in terms ng papasok na negosyo dahil ang taas ng taxes natin.”
On claims since 2000 that the PH cannot remove some exemptions because it is not yet competitive:
“Taon-taon tuwing magpapasa tayo yan ang katwiran, we’re not yet competitive, e since 2000. When will we ever be competitive? When will we ever be ready? Noong 2000, yan ang katwiran we’re not yet competitive, 2017 na Ngayon, 17 years after, di pa rin tayo competitive. Wala na talaga. We will never be competitive anymore kung yan ang argument.”
On pork in the 2018 budget:
“Meron. Definitely. Aminin nila o hindi tatanggi-tanggihan nila pero may pork. Maliwanag yan.”
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