Duterte admin presents plan to cut PH debt to Marcos admin, says Palace

FILE PHOTO: Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has proposed a plan to reduce the country’s debt to the incoming administration of president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Malacañang said Thursday.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the country’s debt soared to P12.68 trillion as of March.

“The Duterte Administration’s Economic Team has proposed a fiscal consolidation and resource mobilization plan, containing fair, efficient, and corrective tax measures,” acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement.

“These include the expansion of value-added tax (VAT) base by removing ineffective VAT exemptions except for some sectors, among others, to generate revenues,” the official added.

READ: Higher taxes pitched to repay Duterte’s COVID-19 debts

The proposal, however, is subject to the consideration of the next administration, Andanar stressed.

For the incoming Marcos administration, a tax hike is not a priority, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri recently noted.

Despite his scheduled term termination by the end of this month, reducing the country’s debt is still Duterte’s priority, according to Andanar.

READ: Don’t fear purposeful PH debt, says DBM