Tax perks urged for donors of jabs for teachers, pupils

A lawmaker wants tax benefits granted to private entities and wealthy individuals that would sponsor the vaccination of over 800,000 teachers and 22 million children in public schools in the country. Under House Bill No. 9200, Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor said private corporations paying for the vaccines against COVID-19 of teachers and children would be entitled to an “additional deduction” from their gross income, equivalent to 150 percent of what they spent for the vaccines. Thus, a corporation sponsoring P10 million worth of doses may claim an extra deduction of up to P15 million from gross income, subject to tax.

—Nestor Corrales