Opinion Polls
By Marichel Teves-Magalona

Are you in favor with the government's move of increasing VAT as a revenue generation measure?

TONY SY YAP
No. To begin, the money I spend is already taxed . When I buy tax ulit. Ngayon gusto pa itaas. Anong suerte ba ito!

MELISSA SOLIVEN
Yes. Since not everyone pay the right taxes or not paying taxes at all, this is the sure way for government to collect. BUT they have to fine tune VAT collection from businesses kasi proper remittance of VAT is also the key.

JOEY AVILA
No. Effective tax collection better.

LITO GARCIA
No. Everything will go up, 10% is more than enough, why VAT, there is more to look at starting from the politician down to their network, tax evaders, etc…

MENIENG MARAVILLA
No to anything that increasingly decreases my income.

DR. KRISTIN TREÑAS
NO! The solution is to IMPROVE COLLECTION, not add taxes!

JOEMARI TREÑAS
No. Tax on text more logical, but unpopular.

DONDI BRISUEÑO
No. Improve tax collection efficiently first.

ANN DIVINAGRACIA
I think what they should explore more is a better collection scheme of the old VAT rate. They seem to have a difficulty streamlining the whole thing.

DENNIS LOCSIN
NO! If all uncollected VAT were collected, we would not need the increase.

GENE GARINGALAO
No, all exemptions must be removed first and if that is not enough to raise the desired revenue target, then and only then must increase in VAT be considered.

ANNIE HECHANOVA-SANTOS
Nope. Government should get rid of graft and corruption first. Increasing VAT is not the solution.

JAY CERTEZA
It's really not a question of revenue collection, the main issue should be government spending. We lose billions of pesos because of graft and corruption. I say crack the whip on these corrupt fuckers in government, and see how much we save on the present tax schemes.

MANNIE GRUENBERG
Additional VAT is the last thing we need to burden   people trying to make ends meet. Can't we just get our government to effectively collect the taxes? I think we have been taxed more than enough, government must collect and we must pay our taxes.

EDGAR SIA
The government could get more taxes only if people would see that the government is spending the taxes properly. No need to increase VAT.

JESS DIMAFILES
These additional taxes will be passed on by the business sector to the consumers primarily composed of the lowly Filipinos who will suffer more. Research shows that we can reach our target if the government will seriously implement tax collection and run after big tax evaders.

MARS ARENAS
Yes.

DODO DIMAGUILA
No, it is not the answer. Eradicate corruption and improve collection.

MICHAEL GORRICETA
Am not in favor of an increase in VAT because there are a lot of ways to raise revenue measures for the government. An additional VAT is an added burden to the Filipino people.

JANICE GIMENEZ
No. The increase will only be passed on to the consumers thereby elevating the prices of goods. Said increases would greatly diminish the buying capacity of the people.

TOTI QUERUBIN
No. Too much burden already for Juan dela Cruz. They should look from the Customs, the tax cheats and tax evaders. Sell the Non Performing Assets, GOCCs that are not delivering and a lot more if they would look further around. Last maybe is for them to look at the Yamashita Treasure not thru VAT. Hehehehe

LEONARDO PESTAÑO
Not in favor. An increase will have an impact on the end users. Victims you & me.

ALBERTO TUZAN
No. They have to improve their collection activity.

JUN SAQUIN
No need for revenue generation, we need anomalies degeneration.

GUS BANUSING
An additional increase in VAT will cause a ripple effect in almost everything. As businessmen , we shall also pass it to the consumers. Result… decrease in sales again. What a nice move. I think the government should be more innovative in thinking of ways rather than just adjusting VAT.

DARWIN PASION
No. They should instead improve the efficiency in collection. We need to remove or repair the leaks (corruption) in the pipe lines (government agencies e.g. BIR, BOC, etc.) for the water to reach its destination (services). Increasing the water pressure (tax) will only worsen the leaks.

ATTY. CYRIL REGALADO
Yes. But only for luxury items.

ERIC SORIANO
They should increase more the taxes on sin products and luxury items instead.

CHICHI RIVERA
Yes, because it is always good to infuse more money in order to stimulate the economy.