value added tax

It’s an emergency: Help millions of Filipinos in crisis now

November 2, 2022

The government’s spending priorities need to be fixed. Social protection needs to be expanded to help families and sectors in need. It is also never too early to start taking steps to develop the national economy and make Filipinos less vulnerable to external economic shocks.

Despite rollbacks, TRAIN makes fuel more expensive–IBON

December 4, 2018

Research group IBON said that even with recent oil price rollbacks, the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law (TRAIN) increases fuel prices with an inflationary effect burdening the poor more than the rich. IBON pointed out that rollbacks have always been proven to be temporary and stressed that TRAIN’s taxes make fuel […]

Group refutes government’s defense of TRAIN

July 23, 2018

In a consumer forum held in anticipation of the third State of the Nation Address, research group IBON debunked the Duterte administration’s avid defense of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. The group said that contrary to government’s pronouncements, the tax program is not beneficial to the poor majority of Filipinos and […]

TRAIN-driven rising cost of living makes wage hike urgent

July 9, 2018

Research group IBON said that tax-driven inflation is making the meager wages of poor Filipinos fall even further behind the rising cost of living. The group said this makes it even more urgent for the government to immediately raise wages even as it revisits the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law behind the […]

Slow TRAIN cash transfers highlight govt’s insensitivity–IBON

February 27, 2018

The poor will get relief about three months into suffering TRAIN-induced price increases with millions of others only getting it much later  Research group IBON said that the slow implementation of the Duterte administration’s social mitigation measures including its cash subsidies highlights how these are just an afterthought to cover up how the Tax Reform […]

Even more money for the rich under TRAIN law – IBON

January 12, 2018

The rich and other higher income groups will have larger take home pay than previously estimated under the new tax law, while the poor will still bear the brunt of paying higher taxes, said research group IBON. IBON said that the highest earning 40% or about 9.1 million households will have even more money in […]

No thanks: US behind Duterte’s anti-poor tax reform

November 13, 2017

At the onset of the much-anticipated first-ever bilateral talks between United States president Donald Trump and President Rodrigo Duterte on Philippine soil, it should be reiterated that the US has a hand in what would be the most anti-poor tax program in the country’s history. The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) exemplifies how […]

Majority not in favor of tax reform proposals – IBON Survey

September 13, 2017

The latest survey of research group IBON showed that majority of Filipinos do not approve of almost all proposals under the first package of the Duterte administration’s proposed tax reform program. Survey respondents were informed that the government has a proposed tax reform package. They were presented with a list of some of the tax […]

Budget cuts will worsen shelter problem–IBON

August 17, 2017

Research group IBON said that the decreased 2018 housing budget will worsen the housing problem in the country. Amid a persistent housing backlog and disproportionate and rapid growth of urban population, the Duterte administration’s proposed housing budget cuts could affect millions of Filipinos in need of homes. The group said that it is the government’s […]