Message sent: TXTPower’s letter to Speaker Nograles, Rep. Suarez saying NO TO TEXT TAX!
Posted: September 14th, 2009 | Author: tonyo | Filed under: News | 3 Comments »Leaders of consumer advocacy group TXTPower today brought their opposition to the text tax to its principal author and to the House leadership, submitting a strongly-worded letter seeking the junking of the controversial new tax.
Composing the TXTPower delegation were president Anthony Ian Cruz and convenors Leon Dulce of the Computer Professionals Union, Vencer Crisostomo of Kabataan Partylist, and Reileen Joy Dulay of the scientists’ group Agham.
The TXTPower leaders submitted their later to Rep. Danilo Suarez, chair of the House oversight committee and principal author of the text tax law, The TXTPower leader, who personally received them in his office.
In an interview with reporters, TXTPower’s Cruz said that if the House is really concerned with providing computer education to the nation’s students, Congress should not enact a new tax law but instead raise the budget of the Department of Education.
Cruz also reiterated TXTPower’s alternative that Congress realign 10 percent of debt service, P4-million from each representative’s pork barrel allocation and portions of the President’s contigency fund towards the P36-billion being sought for the text tax.
Speaker Prospero Nograles did not meet TXTPower leaders who were accompanied by Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza at the Speaker’s office.
Below is the full text of the TXTPower letter:
September 14, 2009
Hon. Prospero Nograles
Speaker
House of Representatives
Hon. Danilo Suarez
Chair
Committee on Oversight
Dear Sirs:
We would like to express our firm opposition to the consolidated bill of Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson HB 6625 and Rep. Danilo Suarez HR 282 seeking to impose a 5-centavo tax for every text message.
This measure will be a burden to the Filipino consumers already experiencing a difficult time due to rising costs and diminishing income.
We believe that despite provisions that the “text tax’” should not add to the burdens of the tax paying public, these do not guarantee that consumers will not shoulder this additional burden. The present deregulated telecommunications industry lacks the transparency to make it possible for the government to implement the no pass-on provision.
The consumers will not allow additional taxes most especially during these times when some officials have been known to spend millions in lavish dinners and controversial trips.
Congress must exercise restraint in looking for ways and means to finance government programs and operations. As an alternative, congress can still get P36-billion without imposing a new tax by reallocating P4-million from each congressman’s pork barrel, P10-million from the Office of the President and 10 percent from the budget intended for debt servicing.
We are calling on your office to stand in the interest of the Filipino public and junk the tax on text proposal.
Sincerely,
Tonyo Cruz
President, TXTPower
Vencer Crisostomo
Secretary General, Kabataan Partylist
Leon Dulce
New Media Team Head, Computer Professionals’ Union
Reileen Joy Dulay
Campaigns and Advocacy Officer, AGHAM
Bago po natin tutulan ang dagdag buwis pars sa telco, ay hilingin muna natin ang pagbababa ng presyo ng TEXT sa 50centimos at calls sa P3.00/minute. Para sa kapakanan ng mga OFW naman, dapat ay ibaba rin ang roaming text (from P20 to P5.00 or less) at roaming call charges (from P150/min to P10/min or less). masyadomg overpriced pero wala tayong action. Ngayong bubuwisan ang mga telecom, ay tayo pa ang magprotekta? bakit???
may garantiya ba na bababa ang presyo ng text at call kapag hindi naipasa itong buwis para sa kanila?
You’ve trolled about this the past three updates. Basahin niyo po ulet yung texters’ declaration — kasama sa pangkalahatang kampanya ng TXTPower ang patuloy na paghiling sa pagbaba ng presyo ng mga mobile services.
Hinay lang. Ibang isyu na ang ipinangangalandakan mo dito. Ang kagyat na usapin dito ay ang panibagong pagpataw ng tax sa texting, and the government’s reasoning is that it is for funding education and that it will not be passed on to the consumers. Kaya dito sa puntong ito umiinog ang talakayan. Otherwise para kang nakikipagdebate sa ibang mundo, ser.
i’m sorry but i do not agree with you.
i really don’t feel it’s right to protect the telcos at this time. There is no guarantee that your action will result to a lower price that we can enjoy. Hindi po garantiya ang walang buwis o mababang buwis para masigurong bababa ang presyo ng text at call, at roaming charges na isa sa pinakamahal sa mundo. Kagaya nga po ng gamot, kahit mababa ang buwis ay Overpriced, at kaya po bumaba ng kaunti ang presyo ay hindi dahil nagprotesta ang mga tao na ibaba o huwag buwisan ito. kaya lamang bumaba ay dahil sa bagong batas at utos ng DOH ng Maximum Retail Price.
Yan po kasi ang inaasahan ko mula sa ating samahan. Na kung mag-action tayo ay para sa pagbaba ng presyo ng text at call at hindi sa pagbaba ng buwis ng telecom.
sana po ay naunawaan ninyo ako. again, I disagree with you, and I’m sorry if you don’t like it.