Pampanga trader airs support to new tax reform program

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2018/01/10/25-balloons-highlight-hot-air-festival-clark-583272
• Tuesday, January 9, 2018

By Reynaldo G. Navales

ANGELES CITY -- A Pampanga-based businessman has expressed support to the government’s comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP).

Rene Romero, owner of the Romac Manpower Services and vice chair of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce (PamCham), said the CTRP will enable the government to finance big ticket infrastructure and other social service projects with an efficient tax collection program.

Despite several apprehensions, Romero said he fully supports and accepts the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN).

“How can the government deliver the needed infrastructure and social services if we will not help by giving taxes,” Romero said.

He also expressed optimism that the Duterte Administration will accomplish its development projects under the Build Build Build program.

“Personally I accept the new tax reform program. It remains to be seen that the government will deliver what its promises and I believe in the administration right now,” Romero said.

“TRAIN will finance President (Rodrigo) Duterte’s Build Build Build and we in Central Luzon will benefit from these. I encourage our people and friends and my colleagues in the business to support the government,” he added.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the TRAIN is the first package of the CTRP introduced by the Duterte Administration which seeks to correct a number of deficiencies in the tax system to make it simpler, fairer, and more efficient.

TRAIN was implemented to ensure an efficient tax collection where the rich will have a bigger contribution and the poor will benefit more from the government’s programs and services, the agency added.

Romero at the same time said he is bullish for 2018 until 2022 until the end of Duterte’s term.

“As a businessman I am very bullish for 2018. Yes it is true that we have experienced so many ups and downs in 2017 but whether we like it or not 2018 is preparation is preparation for the mid-term elections in 2019,” Romero said.

By middle of 2018, campaign funds will add to the money in circulation which will make the economy run faster. “That will be converted into jobs for our kababayans.”

He stressed that Clark Freeport is “igniting the dynamics of the economy and surrounding provinces in Central Luzon are benefiting from its development.