Deputy Speaker: Unfair to judge Train barely days after its implementation

House Deputy Speaker Rep. Fredenil Castro of Capiz. INQUIRER.net / Jhoanna Ballaran

Give the law a chance, said Deputy House Speaker Fredenil Castro of the newly-implemented Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law, which has been criticized by many for its “anti-poor” provisions.

In a news forum on Saturday, Castro said it was “unfair” to condemn the measure barely a week into its implementation and its actual effect on the economy has yet to be felt.

“Palagay ko ay hindi fair na kailangang husgahan na natin itong Train sapagkat ilang araw pa lang naman ito naging effective sa ating bansa,” Castro said during a news forum at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City.

(I think it is not fair to judge this law because it has only been effective for days.)

“Sa maikling salita, ang pagkakaintindi ko ng Train ay give and take ito. Meaning to say, may ibibigay na kabutihan ang batas na ito at meron ding itong tama sa ating mamamayan, na ayon sa kanila, ay magpapahirap sa kanila,” he added.

(In short, what I understand about Train is that this one is a give and take. Meaning to say, the law will provide something good and will bring undesirable impact to the poor, which, according to them, will make them suffer.)

The Train Law, which took effect on January 1, would increase the take home pay of about seven million employees earning below P21,000 monthly. However, prices of goods and services would also increase because of the excise tax on oil that would cause a P7-per-liter increase in the prices of some fuel and petroleum products.

Meanwhile, such provisions would hurt the poorest sector the most, Ibon Foundation Executive Director Sonny Africa said.

Citing data from the Department of Finance (DOF), Africa said the tax measure would bring P24,000 additional monthly income to the upper class families while slash off P800 from the poorest families.

“So medyo, hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit magdidisensyo ng tax package ang gobyerno na mas maraming mailalagay sa bulsa ng mayayaman habang ang sobrang wala na ay babawasan pa,” Africa said in the same forum.

(So we do not quite get why the government would design a tax package that would put a lot more in the pockets of the rich while those who almost have nothing would be further deprived.)

The law also imposes additional tax on sweetened beverages as part of the government’s effort to promote healthier living by discouraging consumers from patronizing sugary drinks, Castro said.

“Ang intensyon nitong ating pamahalaan ay para mapahalagahan ang kalusugan ng ating mamamayan,” Castro said.

(The intention of our government is to take care of the people’s health.) /jpv

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