Palace: Veto of bill on poll workers’ tax breaks ‘a matter of good housekeeping’
MANILA, Philippines — The veto of the proposed law that would have exempted from income tax the honoraria and allowances of poll workers during an election is “a matter of good housekeeping,” Malacañang said Wednesday.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vetoed the proposed measure with the intention to reform and “fine-tune” the country’s tax system.
She also clarified that the veto of the bill does not a removal of the benefits poll workers enjoy.
“Wala tayong tinatanggal sa ating mga government employees who will be rendering post-service. ‘Yung pag-veto ng President is a matter of good housekeeping. Ang ating tax system, hindi ba nire-reporma natin ito?” Cruz-Angeles said in a Palace briefing.
(We are not removing the benefits of government employees who will be rendering post-service. The veto of the President is a matter of good housekeeping. Are we not reforming our tax system?)
Cruz-Angeles said Marcos is only removing tax exemptions given to various groups, which she said, creates confusion in the tax system.
“Sa dami dati ng binibigyan ng ganon, medyo magulo na yung sistema, hindi natin alam sino ‘yung mga nagbe-benefit dito, at kung makatarungan nga na so many people are exempt, have tax breaks or tax benefits,” she said.
(With all of the benefits given, the system is muddled, we don’t know who should benefit from tax exemptions and if they deserve it.)
Instead of tax breaks or exemptions, the President is proposing to give some kind of aid to poll workers, Cruz-Angeles said.
“That way, maayos yung sistema ng pangongolekta ng buwis, pero matutulungan pa rin natin sila,” she added.
(That way, we will fix our tax collection system and we will help the poll workers.)
In his veto message, Marcos said that while the intent of the proposed law was laudable, it would be “inequitable to other persons performing similar activities or services.” – Christine Annie Asistio, INQUIRER.net intern
