Senator Dick Gordon has called on concerned government agencies to ensure timely and proper collection of duties and taxes to bolster tax collection and eliminate the need to impose the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to raise revenue.
Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, pointed out that if agencies such as the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue would be strict in collecting proper duties and taxes, there would be no need to burden the people with the TRAIN law.
From 2012 to 2016, the government lost potential collections amounting to P423,246 billion in taxes and VAT due to smuggling from China alone.
From 2012 to 2016, the government lost potential collections amounting to P423,246 billion in taxes and VAT due to smuggling from China.
“Hindi dapat masaktan ang mga tao sa TRAIN kung nakokolekta ng BOC at BIR ang mga buwis na dapat kolektahin. We don’t have to increase taxes of our people if we can curb smuggling, if we can curb non-payment of taxes… It behooves us all here – executive, legislative and judiciary, to work together to make sure that we correct the situation, the anomalous situation para makuha natin ang mga buwis na dapat nating kunin,” the veteran legislator stressed.
“We don’t have to increase taxes of our people if we can curb smuggling, if we can curb non-payment of taxes.”
The seasoned lawmaker noted that total collection from the variance in Chinese importation alone could have solved some of the country’s problems such as classroom shortage, defense capability strengthening, among others.
“P423 billion can wipe out the classroom shortage in the Philippines, we have a shortage of 113,995 classrooms nationwide. It can also be used to strengthen our defense capabilities through the procurement of at least 23 frigates at P18 billion each or 81 F-35A fighter jets at P5.2 billion each. P423 billion can be used for the government’s Build, Build, Build Program or other development projects,” the senator from Olongapo and Zambales said.
