Palace: Bongbong Marcos wants ‘ayuda’ instead of tax breaks for poll workers

Press Secretary Trixie Angeles-Cruz (Photo from a video posted on Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — Instead of tax exemptions, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants to give poll workers a form of aid or “ayuda,” Malacañang said Wednesday.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles issued the remark following the vetoing of Marcos of the proposed law that would supposedly grant tax exemptions to the honoraria, allowances, and other benefits given to election workers, most of whom are public school teachers.

She said in vetoing the proposed measure, Marcos wanted to “fine-tune” tax laws on his administration’s push for tax reform, fixing and clarifying the tax collection system.

“Sa dami dati ng binibigyan ng ganon [tax break], 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,” Cruz-Angeles said in a Palace briefing.

(As many had already been given [tax breaks], the system is quite messy already, we no longer see who benefits from this. If this is justifiable for so many people to have tax breaks, exemptions, or tax benefits.)

“Imbis na ganito, ang sinasabi ng ating Pangulo, magbigay tayo ng form of ayuda sa ating mga poll workers, imbis na ‘yung benepisyo ay gagawin natin sa pamamaraan ng pagtatanggal ng pagbubuwis,” she added.

(Instead of tax breaks, the President is saying we should give a form of aid to poll workers instead of giving them help through tax exemptions.)

The Press Secretary said the vetoing of the said measure is “a matter of good housekeeping.”

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.”

JPV/abc