Press Release
July 30, 2008

ROXAS: PEOPLE FOOTING THE BILL OF "PIRA-PIRASONG PANGAKO"
TO GMA: BE UPFRONT WITH PEOPLE IN HANDLING FOOD, OIL CRISES

Senator Mar Roxas said the government must be upfront with the people in handling the food and oil crises, and not rely on a piecemeal approach that would not benefit the poor in the long run.

"The people are footing the bill of the government's piecemeal promises. It's unjust that the people pay for the government's inefficiencies," he said.

"Pira-piraso at tagpi-tagpi ang mga solusyon na inihain ng gobyerno, na wala namang epekto sa buhay ng mga kababayan natin. Mas mabuti pang iwan na lang ang pera ng taumbayan sa kanilang bulsa o kamay," he stressed.

The Liberal Party President said the first step the executive must take is to reevaluate its policy on the value-added tax, or VAT.

"The government must have the humility to accept that the policy in place now is not the right solution to today's problems, and shift its policy accordingly. Only a fool doesn't change tack when times change," he said.

"Hindi naman nila inaasahan na makokolekta itong bilyon-bilyong VAT.. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ayaw nila itong bitawan, at ibalik na lang sa mga taong naghihirap ngayon," he stressed.

Roxas, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, said several alternatives are being floated now vis-a-vis the proposal to scrap VAT on oil, such as lowering the VAT rate and others. "This is a start," he said.

"Let's put these on the table and discuss them one by one. It is better than the stonewalling treatment we have received from a government that closes its eyes and closes its ears to today's problems," he added.

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