Media

Increasing royalties like ‘walking to a trap’ Sen. Ralph G. Recto today warned government against approaching the issue of mining as a revenue-enhancing tool by increasing government’s royalty share from mining operators, over proposal to increase mining tax. “Royalties are...

Sen. Ralph G. Recto today said boxing sensation and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao deserves better treatment from the tax bureau, which is unwittingly potraying him as a tax evader. Recto stressed Pacquiao’s earnings from his fights in the United States (US) should no longer be...

Sen. Ralph G. Recto today said any reduction in the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) should be off-set by existing revenue streams that are not reflected in the annual national budget. Recto, Senate ways and means chairman, likewise objected to a multi-tier VAT rate for different...

Sen. Ralph G. Recto today said government should expedite the fixing of its air infrastructure once tourist-drawing projects come in full swing like the opening up new gaming complexes for foreign players. “The air war must be won before we can claim victory on the touri...

A great disservice to non-Middle East OFWs Sen. Ralph G. Recto today said the government may be committing a great disservice to its countrymen working and living abroad by closing down at least 10 embassies and consulates, which are mostly in Europe. “This is a wrong...

Sen. Ralph G. Recto today said there seems to be a growing disconnect between the government’s jobs generation plan vis-à-vis the actual number of people out of jobs and those who have found jobs but are hardly surviving from their meager income. “The country has a growing labor...

Sen. Ralph G. Recto today said state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) should tell Congress why it was seeking a 100 percent increment in members’ contributions despite its huge cash reserves and generous budgetary support. “As I’ve said before, the planned...

Resolution tasks Senate banks panel to conduct probe Sen. Ralph G. Recto yesterday called for a revisit of the laws on foreign currency deposit units (FCDUs) and the confidentiality of bank accounts to hammer out better laws responsive to “changing times and changing crimes...