SEN. REVILLA'S STATEMENT ON THE PROPOSED 5¢ TEXT TAX

As I said before, I will oppose any moves to impose new taxes on texting with the main concern that the telecommunication companies might pass the burden to its subscribers. Our poor and middle-class countrymen rely on texting not only to communicate to their loved ones and friends but also to transact business, whether they are street vendors or small-time exporters. We should not deprive the public of the cheapest and most accessible means of communication.

I am amenable to the proposed 5¢ text tax which will be shouldered by the telcos. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, I will study the proposal and if necessary, recommend measures to ensure that this will not be passed on to the subscribers.

Baka sa bandang huli ay ang publiko rin ang magpapasan ng text tax na ito sa pamamagitan ng tagpas na free texts at iba pang panggigipit na text schemes na idedeklara ng mga telcos. Kahit singkong duling pa yan pero kada text naman, malaking kawalan pa rin sa mga subscribers kung sila ang magkakargo niyan.