Restaurateur seeks tax break amid struggles with COVID-19

Due to the limit on customers, a restaurant owner in Palawan had asked the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases if they could be given a tax break or even a tax holiday amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to JM Encinas' report on "Stand for Truth," though Palawan was one of the areas in the country with the lowest reported COVID-19 cases, the pandemic's effect were still felt.

"'Yung mga naging suggestions namin sa aming city, hopefully, mapaag-aralan mabuti ng national government na mabigyan ng mga tax break, tax holiday, para sa mga restaurant owners kagaya namin, especially isa kami sa mag hardest hit, kasama ng tourism sector," Christian Yayen said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the IATF needed to consult with local chief executives on the matter.

"Para naman sa mga business tax na binabayaran sa mga local government units tanong natin 'yung mga mayors kung willing sila kasi desisyon 'yan ng mga sanggunian, bawat LGU can decide," Malaya said.

"For example, puwede sabihin ni Maynila, bilang tulong sa mga negosyante dito sa lungsod ng Maynila, I will ask the city council to amend the ordinance, 'yung kanilang  tax ordinance, para mabigyan ng tax break 'yung mga negosyante," he added.

Watch the video to know more. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News