Roxas urges DA to assess impact of Typhoon Frank’s damage on RP rice supply

Senator Mar Roxas called on the Department of Agriculture to assess the impact of typhoon damage – amounting to half a billion pesos and causing the loss of crops in 300,000 hectares in Western Visayas and 12 other provinces –on the country’s dwindling rice supply. “It’s not enough to know the damage in peso terms […]

Roxas urges DA to assess impact of Typhoon Frank’s damage on RP rice supply

Senator Mar Roxas called on the Department of Agriculture to assess the impact of typhoon damage – amounting to half a billion pesos and causing the loss of crops in 300,000 hectares in Western Visayas and 12 other provinces –on the country’s dwindling rice supply. “It’s not enough to know the damage in peso terms […]

Statement of Senator Mar Roxas on the release of Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, Angel Valderama and peace advocate Octavio Dinampo from their captors

“We are very happy and relieved that TV journalist Ces Drilon, cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angel Valderama as well as peace advocate Prof. Octavio Dinampo, are now safe and free from the clutches of their abductors.” “They have been through a harrowing experience from which they would need more time and privacy to recover from. […]

Roxas bats for ZERO VAT on oil as third pillar of relief package

After the passage of the affordable medicines and tax exemptions law, will the approval of the suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil be next? This is the fervent hope of Senator Mar Roxas, principal author of the recently enacted measures providing for cheaper medicines and tax exemptions for minimum wage earners. Roxas, chairman […]

Roxas: Who is "Noah"?

The planned three-year P316-billion “Noah’s Ark” subsidy program can only work if the subsidies reach the pockets of the poorest of the poor rather than the leather wallets of corrupt officials, Senator Mar Roxas said. “If they insist on this three-year subsidy plan, then they must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that these […]

Roxas: “Finally, Government’s feet on the ground”

Senator Mar Roxas said it is high time to suspend the value-added tax (VAT) on oil products, now that the government has already “accepted the reality” that it would not meet its “theoretical” target to balance the budget. “Finally, nakaapak na sila sa lupa (their feet are now on the ground)! Because their theory that […]

Roxas: Slower growth, high prices call for ZERO VAT on oil

Senator Mar Roxas said the government should now support moves for zero value-added tax (VAT) on oil, now that the government has admitted it would not anymore meet its balanced budget target this year due to slower growth. “When oil was at $90 per barrel at the beginning of the year, that target of a […]

Large savings for workers with Tax Exemption Bill’s passage, Sen. Roxas says

Senator Mar Roxas said people have plenty of savings to look forward to, with the impending passage of Congress’ bill to exempt minimum wage earners from income taxes. “Magandang balita ang natanggap natin sa sinang-ayunan na ng House yung Senate version para sa exemption ng mga minimum wage earners, at additional exemptions para sa iba […]

Roxas: Immediate relief, not tokenisms, needed

Senator Mar Roxas said the people do not need mere “tokenisms” but real and immediate relief in coping with the continued high prices of petroleum products. He cited the Department of Energy’s announcement to remove the tariff on imported crude oil and refined products – that would supposedly lower pump prices by P0.50 – effective […]

Roxas: Oil VAT suspension win-win solution for transport, consumers

Senator Mar Roxas described the proposed zero value-added tax (VAT) on oil as a “win-win” solution to the woes of the transport sector and of consumers alike due to the sky-high prices of petroleum products. “Kung gusto ng gobyerno ng ‘win-win’ na solusyon, suportahan na nito ang pagtanggal ng VAT sa langis. Agad na makikinabang […]