Lacson: Tax reform, 2018 budget billions worth of vested interests of the few

The signing of the first tax reform package and the 2018 national budget will only benefit a few, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.

TRAIN and GAA: billions of pesos worth of vested interests of the few. Double gift or double slap?

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) December 19, 2017

Lacson was referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN bill signed into law as Republic Act No. 10963, and the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2018.

During the signing ceremony in Malacañang Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said the first tax reform package is the “administration’s biggest Christmas gift to the Filipino people.”

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III defended the tax reform package, saying Duterte has been able to fulfill his campaign promise.

“But of course, the reality of governance is we also have to have revenues pero on the consumption side na 'yon. We are now putting more money in the pockets of taxpayers and he or she decides where he will spend his money on,” Pimentel added.

In a text message, Lacson said he was also referring to the 2018 national budget, after a newspaper report said 24 opposition congressmen did not get funding for their infrastructure projects.

“Bakit umaangal ang 24 congressmen dahil hindi sila binigyan ng projects? Isa lang ang kasagutan - merong projects 'yong mahigit 200 na kasamahan nila,” Lacson said.

Lacson recalled that some lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives protested when he moved to slash the Department of Public Works and Highways’ budget by P50.7 billion.

“Sabi pa nga nung iba, ‘projects ko 'yan, projects ko 'yon!’ Ano pa nga ba ibig sabihin nun except, pork ko 'yan, pork ko 'yon!” Lacson said. —ALG, GMA News