Pagbuwis sa voluntary contributions sa SSS, GSIS, Pag-Ibig at PhilHealth, tinutulan

MANILA – Sa halip na pigain sa buwis ang boluntaryong kontribusyon ng mga miyembro ng Social Security (SSS), Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS), Pag-Ibig at PhilHealth, pinayuhan ng isang kongresista ang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) na paghusayin na lamang ang pagkolekta sa mga hindi nakokolektang buwis. Inihayag nitong Huwebes ni House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay, na maliit lamang ang makukuhang buwis mula sa mga karaniwang empleyado na boluntaryong nagpapamiyembro sa SSS, GSIS, Pag-Ibig at PhilHealth. Sinabi ng mambabatas na mas malaki ang maidadagdag sa kaban ng bayan kung ang mga malalaking tax evader ang hahabulin ng BIR. "Most of these voluntary contributions are not really huge amounts, just regular employees' attempt to save a little more in order to collect more from the government agencies when it becomes time for them to collect their pension. There is really nothing wrong with that unless the BIR sees any reason for excess," ayon kay Magsaysay. Pinuna rin ng kongresista na maging ang mga ahensiyang nabanggit ay tutol sa plano ng BIR dahil makakaapekto ito sa kanilang kampanya na hikayatin ang mga tao na maging miyembro nila. "Regular folk are already dealing with taxes wherever they go. Food, gasoline, toll and every purchase they make is already subject to VAT, not including the taxes that are being deducted from their paychecks. It is quite harsh for the government to impose additional taxes on even their littlest attempt to save for their future," diin ni Magsaysay. Iginiit niya na maraming malalaking negosyante ang hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis sa gobyerno na higit na dapat pagtuunan umano ng pansin ng BIR. Kasabay nito, kinastigo ng isang grupo ng mga overseas Filipino worker (OFW) ang BIR dahil kasama sa kakaltasan ng buwis ang kontribusyon ng ma migranteng manggagawa sa SSS at Pag-Ibig “Some of us, OFWs, opted to voluntarily contribute and avail the programs of the SSS and PAG-IBIG not for investment to gain millions of profits. It is just an investment enough to secure our needs when we retire and have our own house we could proudly say a product of our hard works abroad," paliwanag ni John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator ng Migrante sa Middle East. “We know that it is the BIR’s duty to raise and collect taxes but the government must be reasonable and fair and must consider the present socio-economic plight of our people. The government must stop treating our OFWs as milking cows, while there are no or lack of govt. programs and welfare services for them," dagdag niya. - FRJ, GMA News