Keeping BPO firms in WFH setup is commonsensical —Pacquiao

Presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao has opposed the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB)'s rejection of BPO firm's requests for an extension of remote-work arrangements.

In a statement, Pacquiao said maintaining their fiscal incentives is a matter of common sense.

“Kahit naka-WFH naman ang mga BPO workers natin lalabas pa rin naman sila para kumain, mag-relax, bumili ng damit at kung ano-ano pa. Mas gagalaw pa ang ekonomiya dahil yung pera na gagamitin lang nila sa pamasahe at gasolina at magagamit para sa ibang sektor ng pagnenegosyo,” Pacquiao said.

(Our BPO workers are still helping our economy even if they are on work-from-home (WFH) arrangement because they would still need to eat, spend money to relax, buy clothes, and many other things. They are helping other business sectors instead of spending most of their money on fares or fuel.)

Pacquiao urged the government to help the micro, small and medium enterprises by optimizing the at least P4 billion which were unused in the Bayanihan 2 Fund that was allotted for MSMEs.

Pacquiao added that if elected president, he would prioritize the creation of permanent loan facilities that offer zero-to-minimum interest loans for MSMEs and would-be MSMEs.

Instead of removing the tax perks, Pacquiao said the DOF should encourage the BPO sector to continue with their WFH arrangements to ease traffic congestion and reduce fuel consumption.

“ Common sense lang naman yan eh. Bakit natin aalisan ng tax incentives itong mga BPO natin, eh napakalaking ambag nila sa ating ekonomiya at napakaraming Pilipino ang nabibigyan ng trabaho dahil sa kanila. Baka isang araw pati mga BPO natin magsialisan na rin dahil parang walang malasakit ang gobyerno,” Pacquiao said.

(It’s basic common sense. Why would you revoke the tax incentives of these BPOs when you know they are doing a great job in keeping the economy afloat and in providing jobs to a lot of Filipinos? These BPO companies might move elsewhere soon because the government is not providing proper support.)

Pacquiao cited other reasons for the need for the WFH setup, including Metro Manila’s monstrous traffic during the pre-pandemic days and the skyrocketing cost of fuel because of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Pacquiao pointed out the BPO sector has been one of the country’s primary economic engine, contributing at least US$26 billion to the national coffers and employing 1.3 Million workers in more than 1,000 firms, even at the height of the pandemic. —LBG, GMA News