Mikey Arroyo wants trike drivers to issue receipts

Rep. Juan Miguel ‘Mikey’ Arroyo, who represents security guards and tricycle drivers in Congress, expressed his readiness to help the government implement its proposal to make tricycle drivers issue receipts. Arroyo, son of former Philippine President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, admitted that implementing the proposal would be difficult. “Mahihirapan sila niyan…(They will find it difficult but) since we said that we will try to help this administration, we will see first if it’s doable," he said in an interview with reporters on Monday. “We have to try these proposals first before they are shot down. What if it’s okay?" Arroyo said. The plan of the Bureau of Internal Revenue earlier drew flak from lawmakers, who said the revenue collecting agency should go after the big tax evaders and not those involved in the so-called underground economy. Arroyo said the new minority in the House would cooperate with the Aquino government. “That is the difference between this minority and the last one. We are not here to be obstructionist, we want to help them. We will not be there to oppose just for the sake of opposing," he said. He added that they want to cooperate with the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. “We believe he has a strong mandate and God gave him an opportunity to make a difference in our country so we will not stand in the way of progress," he said. The lawmaker, however, said they will not be giving up their role as fiscalizers. “We believe as part of fiscalizers we will be responsible for the sake of the country. After all, our sworn duty under the Constitution is to make life for our countrymen better," Arroyo said. –AMITA LEGASPI/VVP, GMANews.TV