Protests mar last day of SLEx VAT hearing

Protesters took to the streets on Monday opposing the plan to impose a 12 percent Value-Added Tax (VAT) on existing South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) toll fees, arguing that the public hearings and consultations on the issue are a farce. According to a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali," members of Taxpayer's Unity vs Toll Hike in the South Luzon Expressway (Tutol SLEx) protested in front of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) office in Pasig City on the last day of the TRB deliberations on the proposed VAT.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV “Tanong ko sa Pangulo ngayon, ‘asan ang daang matuwid? Kung tuwid ang gusto mo, ituwid mo itong ganyang klaseng napaka-regressive na taxation," said Tutol SLEx co-convener Sammy Malunes in the report. The group also called on President Benigno Aquino III to intervene in the planned SLEx VAT because tax is already being paid via the toll fees. In a “24 Oras" report on Monday, meanwhile, Elvira Medina of the National Council for Consumer Protection opposed the TRB’s public hearings. “What is your exact definition of a public hearing? Ang public hearing po ba ang ‘yung speak to the public and we hear? Or we hear both sides?" she said.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Early this year, SLEx toll increases were approved despite public protests because the government’s economic team was not able to come up with an alternative course of action. The increase, however, was lower than the amount originally applied for by operator South Luzon Tollways Corp. TRB executive director Manuel Imperial assured the public that the TRB will look into the groups’ concerns, despite their accusation that the TRB has already come up with a final decision. “The government is sensitive to this issue because it will affect the economic situation in the country. Walang moro-moro dito," he said on the “24 Oras" report. Former Congressman Renato Diaz, one of the authors of the E-VAT Law, urged the President to postpone the implementation of the proposed SLEx VAT. “Habuling natin ang mga balyena, mga malalaking isda — hindi yung puro dilis," he said. — BC/VS, GMA News