“Aquino: No new taxes yet.” This was the BusinessMirror’s headline on 27 June 2011.

How should the statement of President Noy Aquino be interpreted? Should we—those who support an increase in taxes—be dismayed over the statement?

Of course, for vested interests—e.g., the manufacturers of sin (alcohol and tobacco) products—the statement is welcome news. They will emphasize the phrase “no new taxes.”

On Thursday (June 09, 2011), Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, chairman of the House of Representatives Ways and Means committee, moved to secure permission from House leaders to conduct hearings during the sine die adjournment. In a news release quoted by the Manila Times and the BusinessWorld over the weekend, Rep. Mandanas said that this was part of his […]

The Action for Economic Reforms (AER) is one with Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, chairman of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, in passing a sin tax bill to raise government revenue from tobacco and alcohol taxes toward financing health and other development objectives.

Nevertheless, we urge him not to unduly hasten the process and to ensure that the full reform measures contained in the bills sponsored by other Representatives are studied thoroughly and incorporated into the consolidated bill that will be debated when Congress resumes in July.