COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HOLDS FIRST HEARING: Committee on Ways and Means chairman Sen. Ralph G. Recto and Committee on Finance chairman Sen. Franklin M. Drilon question Usec. Ann Lontoc of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) regarding the proposed imposition of value-added tax (VAT) on highway toll fees, which is scheduled to take effect on Monday, Aug. 16. Recto, author of the VAT law, has said that highway tolls are not covered by the VAT law and imposition of the added tax without congressional approval is against the law.