Poe supports move to make foreign workers in PH pay taxes

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines –Senator Grace Poe is supporting the move to make foreigners working in the country pay taxes.

Poe said the plan will not only deter the influx of foreign workers into the country but will also help generate income for the government.

”Why not? We need some funds so why won’t ask them to pay taxes? the reelectionist senator said.

Poe was in Tacloban City on Thursday as part of her campaign sortie in the Eastern Visayas. She was scheduled to hit the campaign trail in Ormoc City, Leyte and in Catbalogan City in Samar province later that day.

A joint policy issued by the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Justice, Bureau of Deportation and Immigration, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, requires all foreign workers in the country to apply for tax identification numbers (TIN), thus, making them tax payers.

The new policy was crafted amid reports on the influx of Chinese nationals seeking jobs in the Philippines.

Poe said that while she does not see anything wrong with Chinese or other foreign nationals working in the country, they should not be given jobs that could be done by Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Poe said she is humbled with the results of various surveys that show her landing at the top rank of candidates seeking Senate seats in the May 13 midterm elections.

“I’m happy to be on top even if I am an independent candidate,” she said.

During her visit to this city, Poe was accompanied by popular actor Coco Martin in a motorcade that went through a public market where they were welcomed by supporters.

A recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed Poe in a statistical tie with fellow reelectionist Senator Cynthia Villar.  /muf