2010 Elections: Senatorial Bets’ Stand Regarding the People’s Agenda

Yasmin Lao

Instead of spending billions on all-out conflict, the government should spend on social services

http://www.thepoc.net/blogwatch-features/3464-senatorial-candidate-yasmin-busran-lao.html

Risa Hontiveros

Filed a bill on cheaper medicines, pushed for bills that concern health such as the reproductive health bill.

Ralph Recto

Pushed for “Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act,” to strengthen the partnership between government and basic sectors towards poverty alleviation.

Pushed for Attrition Act of 2005, a system of incentives which shall cover employees of the BIR and BOC whenever they surpass collection targets.

Pushed for Rent Control Act of 2005 to protect housing tenants in the lower income brackets from unreasonable rent increases

Ruffy Biazon

Pushed for “Socialized And Low-cost Housing Loan Restructuring Act Of 2008, Magna Carta for Homeowners’ Associations, Transferring The Philippine Coast Guard To The Department Of Transportation And Communications,Resettlement, Aid And Rehabilitation Services For The Underprivileged And Homeless Citizens Affected By The Demolition Of Houses/dwellings Along Danger Areas and Maritime Code of the Philippines.

Teofisto Guingona III

Sponsored an act establishing an “adopt-a-health center program,” providing incentives

Sonia Roco

Will push for accessible quality education for all policy

Jose De Venecia Jr.

I would like to see a reevaluation of the Generics Law. The lobby of the multinational drug companies remains strong. The MNCs must not be allowed to weaken the law, but should still be allowed to bring in or manufacture drugs that local companies cannot.

Every Filipino citizen must be covered by a universal health care plan. Private sector health plans can be supplementary to a government provided universal plan, providing additional benefits while splitting the cost.

Juan Ponce Enrile

We would push to improve the health of the people. Give sufficient budget to the Department of Health and hospitals nationwide. Would also push for Cheaper Medicines Act.

http://www.juanponceenrile.com/interview36.php

Jose Apolinario Lozada Jr.

“Everyone has the right and access to social services. Lets work for it. Commercialization is there because we have not fully understood what social concern means. That has to be restructured.”

Danny Lim

“I will certainly look into making quality services available to the least advantaged members of our society”

Jinggoy Estrada

Called for the repeal or at least review of the automatic debt appropriation law in order to free up public resources for social services

Pia Cayetano

Called for the repeal or at least review of the automatic debt appropriation law in order to free up public resources for social services

8. Taxes. Are they in favor of scrapping the reformed value added tax (RVAT) and other regressive taxes?

Franklin Drilon

Pushed for the passage of the RVAT law in 2005

Serge Osmena III

Pushed for the passage of the RVAT law in 2005

Satur Ocampo

Called for the removal of the 12% Expanded Value Added Tax on oil and other petroleum products when oil companies Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., Seaoil Philippines Inc., Petron Corp. and Chevron (formerly Caltex) Philippines Inc. announced a P0.50 a liter increase in gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices.

http://www.satur4senator.com/category/tags/vat

Filed a bill calling for the scrapping of VAT on oil and power.

Liza Maza

RVAT, and its predecessor EVAT, shouldn’t have been implemented in the first place. RVAT has caused additional burden to the already poverty-stricken Filipinos by imposing an extra 10% cost on almost all the basic necessities. It should not have been implemented in the first place.

Filed a bill calling for the scrapping of VAT on oil and power.

Alex Lacson

He believes that sin taxes, not VAT, should be increased. Lacson added, “I’ve always believed, especially in these times, that imposing more VAT is not a solution — we need to focus on improving the economic environment, and more importantly, improving our tax collection rate. We need to crack down on smuggling and graft within our tax-collection agencies,” Lacson said.

http://alexlacson.net/pinoyalexlacson/increase-taxes-on-sin-products

VAT should be directed to anti-poverty programs like microfinance and supporting SMEs.

http://alexlacson.net/pinoyalexlacson/vat-should-be-used-to-ameliorate-poverty

Gilbert Remulla

Remulla believes “an improved tax collection” will lead to growth, citing that the annual tax collected make up only 12 percent of GDP, while taxing in other countries make up 17 to 20 percent.

http://www.thepoc.net/blogwatch-features/5382-what-would-gilbert-remulla-do-in-the-senate.html

Adel Tamano

He would move for the “repeal of the provision in the budget law on automatic appropriation for debt servicing.” There is no need for the suggestion of the Department of Finance to increase the VAT from 12 to 15 percent. Instead, tax collection should be more efficient.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=568669&publicationSubCategoryId=63).

Gwen Pimentel

Joined other NP senatorial candidates in opposing the proposal of the Department of Finance to increase VAT from 12 to 15 percent. Instead, tax collection should be more efficient

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=568669&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Jose De Venecia III

No new taxes. The country has more than enough taxes but has always had a problem with collection.

The sole exception will be a carbon tax whereby carbon-emitting plants, factories and vehicles which do not meet the strictest environmental standards will be taxed.

JV Bautista

Repeal E-VAT

I believe that E-VAT do not distinguish between rich and poor people. I believe in progressive taxation. This means that taxes should only be imposed to rich people by the government. After all, it is them that the government protects and the poor is always neglected. (Failon Ngayon Interview)

Juan Ponce Enrile

File a bill to undertake a gradual and programmed reduction of income taxes over a period of time to ease the tax burden on ordinary income earners and businesses and to spur economic activity in the country.

Believes that imposing VAT on toll fees would only lead to an increase in price of food. The toll fee itself is a tax so it would not be allowed to impose another tax.PMP is planning to file charges against the 12 percent VAT on toll to make a permanent junction.

http://www.juanponceenrile.com/interview38.php

Pushed for the passage of the RVAT law in 2005

Jinggoy Estrada

The problem lies in the implementation and enforcement of law. This Representation, therefore, seeks to initiate a dialogue with the business community, the tax authorities, and other concerned sectors on how to better implement our tax collection system.

However, priority should be given to the bill exempting the purchase of medicine by senior citizens from the coverage of the R-VAT, and amending for this purpose, Section 109 of the National Internal Revenue Code.

http://www.senjinggoyestrada.com/index.php/articles/view/9.html

One of the few senators seeking reelection who voted against the controversial and unpopular RVAT.

Jose Apolinario Lozada Jr.

“None until we can satisfy the family needs of very Filipino. Don’t tax the poor, tax the rich.”

Danny Lim

“I am in favor of reforming the entire tax system. The current system is a cobbled together policy of both indirect and direct taxes that have proven onerous to all manner of taxpayers and led to massive corruption.”

Pia Cayetano

One of the few senators seeking reelection who voted against the controversial and unpopular RVAT.

Risa Hontiveros

Filed a bill granting 150,000 tax exemption for individual tax payers, and increasing tax exemptions for minimum wage earners

Ralph Recto

In favor of RA No. 9337 (Reformed VAT), pushed for Excise Tax on Automobiles, Pushed for the Lifting of the 70% VAT Cap and Sin Tax Law.

Ruffy Biazon

Pushed for Granting Tax Relief for Individual Taxpayers

Sonia Roco

Believes that educational institutions should not carry the burden of taxes

Ramon Revilla Jr.

Pushed for the passage of the RVAT law in 2005