Passing the cost of graft and corruption and government�s failure to provide cheap and accessible telecommunications

The revival of the proposal of the government to impose an excise tax on each text sent is just showing that it is not interested in improving people’s access to telecommunications.

Making the texting public shoulder the budget deficit through this tax can be called �PASA-COST� much like the pasa-load that is popular among text users. What the government fails to see is that the budget deficit stems from corruption that accounts for as much as 20 percent of appropriations of government officials. With their massive spending in the recent elections, it is no wonder that the government wants to PASA-COST all of that to us.

Our dependence on texting is reflective of the government�s failure to roll out of telecommunications facilities in the provinces and cities. In the absence of any cheap and accessible telephone lines, texting is the most convenient form of communication for most of us making the Philippines the world�s texting capital.

We want to point out that this tax proposal is but a revival of the government�s attempt in December 2003 to impose taxes on texting upon the prodding of the IMF. The 150 million texts per day being sent by consumers is now again the target of the IMF and the government for its prescriptions that have always run counter to the interest of the Filipino people.

We welcome the pronouncements of some senators that they will not let this new tax pass in the Senate. In light of increasing costs of living due to rising oil prices, power rates and prices, this new tax on text makes the burden heavier to the Filipino people.

Reference:

Dr. Giovanni Tapang, Chairperson
Convenor, Txtpower
Agham: 9266636/9263139

Last Modified : June 22nd, 2004
Filed under : News
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