Casiño's SONA barong statement: Down with high prices

More than just a fashion statement, the barong Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Teddy Casiño is wearing for Monday's State of the Nation Address is a statement via fashion.

 

For the third time in a row, Casiño is using his outfit to champion issues his party is pushing. This year, his barong bears the words "Presyo Ibaba," signifying his protest against the rising cost of basic utilities.

 

"So naisip namin, bakit ‘di natin gamitin ‘yung pagkakataon para ipahayag naman ‘yung issue ng mga mamamayan. And for this year, sa pag-ikot namin sa maraming lugar sa buong bansa, ito talaga ang main concern ng ating mamamayan: ‘yung mataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin, partikular ‘yung kuryente, ‘yung langis, tubig. ‘Yung basic utilities," Casiño said in an interview with GMA News TV's News to Go on Monday.

 

He noted that while the Aquino government has continued to receive positive reviews, particularly the success of several Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), the common masa has yet to feel the benefits of economic advancement. In fact, he believes that prices might rise because of PPPs. 

 

"Papasukin na ng private corporations ang water utilities, public hospitals, pati mga elementary schools. Ang classrooms mga private corporations na ang magpapatayo," Casiño said. "Ang karanasan natin sa kuryente, sa tubig at sa langis—ang nangyari po diyan nung pinasok ng mga private corporations ay talagang umakyat ang presyo."

 

Despite this, the congressman reiterated that raising taxes is not the answer. He said that obtaining the billions in uncollected taxes could be one way to subsidize crucial services like power and oil. "Eh kung ‘yun makolekta lang siguro kahit kalahati nun, kahit one fourth nun, hindi na kailangan ng sin taxes, ‘di na kailangan ng additional taxes. That's one, efficiency," he said. 

 

Other than that, Casiño said that the government should look into lowering value-added tax, or VAT. "Bawasan na natin ‘yung VAT. Kasi ‘yung problema sa VAT doble ‘yung pasanin. Habang tumataas ‘yung presyo, tumataas din ‘yung sinisingil na buwis. So it's a regressive tax as far as we are concerned," he said.

 

He also pointed to the impending increase in oil prices this week as another example of the government's failure to address issues that affect the common man.

 

Previous statement barongs Casiño has worn include last year's Freedom of Information Act-inspired number, and 2010's barong which bore the words "Stop the Killings," in honor of slain human rights activists.

 

Casiño's current barong was designed by Edgar San Diego, with hand-painted letras y figuras prints by artists Renan Ortiz and Federico “Boy” Dominguez. –Patricia Denise Chiu/BM, GMA News