Binay challenges Noynoy: Deliver on campaign vows By Gerry Baldo 06/23/2010

Binay challenges Noynoy: Deliver on campaign vows

By Gerry Baldo 06/23/2010 Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay yesterday dared President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to make good on his campaign promises, particularly on what he would do to stem the growing poverty and helplessness among the millions of poor Filipinos. Binay, in an interview yesterday, said the incoming government should act drastically to stop the oil companies from increasing the prices of gasoline and other petroleum products.  Binay also stresed that the government should stop the operators of the South Luzon Expressway (Slex) from increasing its toll rates. He pointed out that the government — specifically the President — can simply stop the implementation of the gasoline price and toll rate increases it if does not want to be part of the system that would further burden the people. “It really is very simple. Just don’t implement the increases,” Binay said. Binay, who ran under the banner of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, reminded the incoming Aquino administration about the promises it made to the people. “I repeat it this early. The President-elect has just finished coming up with his pledges to the people (one of which is to ease the living conditions of the poor). Why can’t this (high prices in oil and toll rates) be stopped by the new administration? Just stop it. Stop its implementation,” he stressed. toll rates) be stopped by the new administration? Just stop it. Stop its implementation,” he stressed. The Vice President-elect pressed the incoming Aquino administration to scrap the value added tax (VAT) on tollways. “This is the first test for the new administration in its determination to fulfill the campaign promise to improve the lives of our people,” he said. Binay said the new administration must analyze the reason behind imposing such tax since it is of dubious legality as nowhere in the Republic Act 9337, the Reformed VAT Law of 2005, does it allow its imposition on tollway users. “A line-by-line reading of RA 9337 will not yield a single provision authorizing the collection of VAT on expressway fees,” Binay said. He said the law expands the coverage and raises the rate of VAT from 10 to12 percent, but toll road use is not among the goods and services enumerated. In the absence of a law authorizing its collection, Binay urged the BIR to stop adding to the difficulties of the people and recall Revenue Memorandum Circulars 30-2010 , 72-2009 , 52-2005, which all stated that toll fees were subject to the VAT.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100623hed1.html

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