
Originally Posted by
tolstoi
E-VAT is constitutional..revolutionary Tax is NOT :mrgreen:
Constitutional? NOT! Can you support your claim? The EVAT is a demand by the IMF WB WTO to the GRP. In order for the GRP to qualify for further loans it must show the IMF WB WTO a viable debt servicing plan. Thus, the raising of taxes. In some ways it is a form of dictation. Manang Glo has no choice but to comply. Kinda like the Supreme Court has no choice but to bow to Manang Glo's wishes.Â*
Â* September 20, 2005
WORLD BANK PRESSURES RP WITH DEBT OFFER FOR E-VAT OK
To secure the implementation of the expanded value-added tax (EVAT), the World Bank is luring the bankrupt Arroyo government with a million-dollar loan.
The World Bank pledged to provide as much as $1.8 billion in loans to the Philippines over the next three years if government achieves its fiscal targets to increase tax collections and reduce the public sector deficit via measures starting with the EVAT law.Â* This represents an increase to $600 million a year from the current $120-$150 million annually.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has also called for the implementation of the EVAT in its entirety so that government can âachieve economic reform and deficit reduction goals.â The EVAT is estimated to increase collections by P9 billion this year if it is implemented by October, while additional collections next year are expected to reach P83 billion.
According to IBON, the World Bankâs offer to increase lending to the debt-dependent Arroyo adminstration in exchange for the EVAT implementation only proves that the tax measure stands to benefit creditors rather than the Filipino people.
Government financial managers have made no secret that the EVAT implementation is intended to send a positive signal to the countryâs creditors. A Finance official pointed out that the Philippines would lose face in international financial markets if the EVAT is not enacted, and would eventually lead to higher interest payments.
Since the World Bank also issues debt papers on international markets, it has a vested interest in upholding the interests of commercial lending institutions by ensuring that its recipient countries generate sufficient revenues to service their debts.
By pushing for the implementation of the EVAT, the Arroyo administration has already shown that its priorities lie in debt servicing and pleasing its creditors. In fact, the proposed budget for next year will allot around 70% for debt servicing alone. But according to IBON, shouldering higher taxes just to pay for governmentâs onerous debts are gravely unjust for the already-burdened poor majority.
IBON stresses that governmentâs fiscal problems are mainly due to revenue losses from trade and investment liberalization, from massive payments on onerous and unjust debts, and from corruption. The government should address these and not burden the people with new taxes. (end)
Â*