AMIDST government’s slim chance of recovering hundreds of billions in squandered funds connected to the flood control scandal, a non-government organization (NGO) is floating the idea that could somehow appease the anger felt by majority of Filipino taxpayers over widespread corruption among high-ranking government officials.
In a recent interview, veteran journalist and Filipino Consumers for Reform (Filcore) spokesperson Tracy Cabrera asked the Marcos Jr. administration to seriously look into the abolition of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) imposed on electricity.
According to Cabrera, such a move could serve as moral reparation over the massive corruption in the government’s flood control projects and other infrastructure development initiatives.
He cited that funds intended to address the perennial flooding problem in the country has somehow found its way into the pockets of Cabinet secretaries, senators, congressmen, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), contractors and even state auditors who are supposed to ensure fraud-free government transactions.
But as far as he is concerned, recovering what has been lost to massive corruption in the government is easier said than done and could well nigh be an exercise in futility.
“Mahirap na para mabawi natin ang lahat ng mga ninakaw mula sa kaban ng bayan—kahit ibenta pa ang mga jet, kotse, mansyon at alahas na nakumpiska mula sa mga sangkot sa anomalya, kaya dapat makagawa ng paraan upang maibsan ang paghihirap ng publiko sa pagbabayad ng buwis na pinangangalagaan nanakawin din naman,” Cabrera pointed out.
“Ang kaya nating gawin ngayon ay tulungan natin ang mga tao sa pamamagitan ng pag-alis ng VAT sa kuryente,”, he added.
He reminded the administration that the government has a moral obligation to give something back to taxpayers who have been at the receiving end of the systemic corruption that has destroyed public trust.
“Pati nga iyong system loss ng mga power company, tayo pa ang nagbabayad ng VAT kaya ang pagtanggal ng VAT sa electric bill ng mga consumer ay magiging isang paraan para makabawi ang taumbayan sa hagupit ng iskandalo,” the Filcore spokesperson further stated.
Moreover, Cabrera stressed that sparing consumers from VAT would allow taxpayers to expand the power of the purse from the “loose coins” which when saved could spell a big difference in the monthly expenditures.
“Such a move could also make the government look good as halting the imposition of VAT on essential services like electricity would free up cash for households and businesses, support consumption and ease pressure on small and medium enterprises while helping keep prices in check,” he asserted while expounding that now is the best time to cut VAT, as public anger over the unprecedented plunder of government funds is peaking and voters are demanding visible justice rather than long investigations that may never fully recover the money.