Arroyo still upbeat about tax bill

Arroyo still upbeat about tax bill

MANILA: Philippine President Gloria Arroyo remained hopeful
Congress would pass a crucial value-added tax (VAT) bill after
legislators failed to meet a deadline and enact the law, an
official said on Saturday.

"We still believe that in the end, the legislators will hear
the call of our president because this is what is needed by the
country," Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio
interview.

Bunye said measures to keep higher taxes from hurting the poor
would be enacted but he stressed: "What is important is that
there should be a swift decision by the bicameral conference
committee.

"We hope they will not prolong it further."

His remarks came after members of both houses of Congress
failed to pass a bill raising the VAT.

Bunye reiterated that Arroyo was still hoping legislators
would pass the bill hiking the VAT from 10 to 12 percent rather
than another version favored by some legislators to increase
corporate income taxes instead. -- AFP