WORKERS and a party-list group called for a wealth tax that would fund health, calamity aid and certain research initiatives.
The groups, who made the push ahead of Labor Day, are also for increasing workers’ wages.
“The ongoing energy crisis highlights the necessity of a wealth tax ... Establishing and enforcing a wealth tax would help ensure that workers, regardless of working status, can be afforded the necessary social protections,” said Secretary-General Josua Mata of the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa in a statement on Thursday.
House Bill 4304 was filed last Sept. 3 by Akbayan Representatives Perci Cendaña, Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Dadah Kiram Ismula and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.
“Coincidentally, the timing is perfect to push for a wealth tax in our country. Amid [the] crisis, we saw the need for more resources to address and ease the impact of the crisis on our countrymen,” Cendaña said in a press conference on Thursday.
Oil prices in the country have risen following the war in the Middle East, although price rollbacks have been implemented over three weeks.
Last March, Malacañang issued Executive Order 110 declaring a state of national energy emergency.
The bill aimed to amend the National Internal Revenue Code to add a section on solidarity contribution rates.
A taxpayer with a net worth of over P300 million must pay solidarity contribution “which shall reflect the total assets, liabilities, net worth of the previous year.” The taxpayer shall pay 25 percent of the amount due on or before Aug. 31, and the remaining 25 percent on or before Nov. 30.
The contribution shall exclusively fund expenditures under the Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, including the construction of new hospitals and medical facilities and the improvement of existing ones, the education and training of medical students in public universities and the hiring of additional doctors for public hospitals.
The contribution will also be used for the People’s Survival Fund, the Calamity Fund and the Quick Response Fund, to fund research on climate change adaptation, public health innovation and disaster risk reduction, and as financial aid for evacuees displaced during a climate disaster.
“We are not saying that the rich are enemies. What we are saying is all Filipinos deserve to prosper. All Filipinos deserve a comfortable life,” Cendana said.
He said Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means or the House of Representatives’ tax panel, vowed that the committee would tackle the bill when session resumes.
The House is on a break and will resume session on May 4. REINA TOLENTINO
