Manila, Philippines – Lower electricity costs to improve the lives of Filipinos.
This is the main goal of Murang Kuryente Partylist Representative Atty. Arthur Yap as he filed before the Congress House Bill No. 5205 seeking the removal of Value Added Tax on electricity billing.
Yap emphasized that aside from high electricity rates, the implemented 12% VAT on the billing was an additional expense for consumers.
The lawmaker noted that if electricity bills are exempted from VAT implementation, power costs affecting living expenses of Filipino households will also decline.
Yap is aware about the concerns on the almost P300 billion collection lost if electricity VAT is removed.
Despite this, he underscored that this will benefit Filipinos as this will be an automatic discount on their electricity expenses.
If not removed, Yap suggested that subsidies in the form of financial aid should be directly inserted on the consumers’ billing, in aim of providing assistance on their daily expenses.
On the other hand, electricity provider MERALCO has expressed support for the goals of the VAT Removal Bill.
MERALCO VP and Spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga noted that if VAT is removed, electricity costs may be lessened with as much as a peso.
The company also assured its consumers to intensify its measures in providing quality service as a power provider.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News