Senior Citicens To Get VAT Windfall

Davao City, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 28, 2008) – Some P500 million in Philippine government collections from the oil taxes are expected to benefit poor senior citizens who are not covered by any retirement benefits.

“Poor citizens who are seventy years old and above and not covered by retirement benefits from Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office are among the recipients of the one-time cash subsidy of P500 obtained from the national government’s oil value added tax collections,” said Estrella Brigole, of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, at a press conference in Davao City on Monday.

“The DSWD is coordinating with the local government units and the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) for the smooth implementation of the project. For Davao region alone, we are targeting some 60,000 older persons that would require P30 million funds. Authorized DSWD special disbursing officers shall go down to the LGUs on the scheduled payout dates and directly disburse the cash subsidy to the claimant,” she said.

She said if more senior citizens meet the subsidy criteria; the ratio of one beneficiary per family shall be followed. She urged eligible senior citizens to apply at their local OSCA or at the local social welfare office so they can be included in the master list of those who can avail of the program.

She said senior citizens should bring with them any valid identification cards and village certification which indicates their birth dates before they cay be included in the government’s poverty assistance.

Brigole said local governments have until November 10 to submit the master list to the DSWD regional offices. “The DSWD shall submit the master list of senior citizens including photocopy of ID and Barangay (village) Certification to Central Office for funding. Date of release of the cash subsidy will be announced by LGU officials,” she said.

“Eligible senior citizens may claim the subsidy at their local OSCA or in the absence of such, the local social welfare and development office. Claimants must present any valid ID indicating birth date, or Barangay Certification. Authorized representatives of senior citizens who are unable to claim must present a valid ID, valid ID of the senior citizen and authorization letter,” she added. (With reports from Carmela Duron and Romy Bwaga)

Southern RP Transport Groups Hold Summit, Demand More Rollback on Oil Prices, Etc.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 17, 2008) – Public transport groups in the southern Philippines held a summit Wednesday in Davao City in an effort to strongly campaign for the more rollback in prices of oil and scrapping of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products.

The summit was organized by the Transport of Southern Mindanao for Solidarity, Independence and Nationalism (TRANSMISION).

Edil Gonzaga, the group’s spokesman, said despite recent rollbacks on oil prices, transport operators and public utility drivers should not waver in calling for the scrapping of the 12 percent VAT. “In fact, we should not be contented with the rollbacks because oil companies are not transparent in their pricing schemes,” he said.

Gonzaga said there is dire need for the government to have a permanent solution to stop oil companies from just raising their pump prices. “There is a strong need for the nationalization of local oil industry because this industry is vital to the country’s economic development, therefore should not remain in the hands of profit-driven oil cartel,” he said.

Scrap Value Added Tax On Oil And Power, Groups Urge RP Leader

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 15, 2008) – Militant groups demanding the scrapping of value added tax on oil and power held a demonstration Tuesday in the southern Philippine city of Davao.

The demonstrators, mostly from the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said President Gloria Arroyo’s refusal to scrap the VAT on oil and power could trigger more protests in the country.

"Arroyo's stubborn refusal to scrap the VAT on oil and power only adds fuel to the growing outrage against her regime. Her refusal to lift her VAT shows unparalleled callousness on her part.”

“Her claim that the VAT helped shield the country from the impact of the world oil and food crisis is a big, fat lie. Contrary to her claim, the VAT actually aggravated the impact of the crisis," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr.

The group said the issue on the VAT could spark widespread protests during Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address on July 28.

“The VAT on oil and power will be a major demand of the SONA protests. There is a growing national campaign right now to demand the removal of this unjust and oppressive tax.
Thousands are expected to march on SONA day to demand immediate economic relief through the scraping of the VAT, implementation of price controls and wage adjustments,” Reyes said.

The multisectoral campaign Kontra KulimVAT estimates that the VAT on diesel fuel is now P6.71 per liter, while that on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is pegged at P88.62 per 11-kilogram.
The group said with the latest increases in prices, the government will now collect P118.29 million daily from the VAT on diesel and P22.77 million on LPG.

“In Davao City, protests are also expected to escalate in the next two weeks. We will continue with our Black Friday protests. We are expecting a big turnout in the SONA rally,” said Bayan-SMR deputy secretary general Makpil Camacho.

Bayan said that Arroyo is prioritizing the interests of foreign creditors over those of her own countrymen who are reeling from poverty. (With reports from Romy Bwaga)