By: Nino Aclan

AMID the Senate’s deliberations on tax incentives for businesses on Monday, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano reminded his fellow lawmakers to treat with equal urgency the workers’ need for a true living wage and the need to eliminate corruption in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Cayetano made the manifestation during the plenary deliberations on Committee Report No. 263, which consolidates all bills that aim to attract investors by enhancing the country’s tax incentives.

“Sana po ‘pag ginawa nating urgent ito, urgent din y’ung concern na paano natin maaayos na may kumpyansa at walang lagayan sa BIR [at] paano rin natin siguraduhin na tumaas ang sweldo ng ating laborers,” he told his fellow senators.

While he acknowledged the necessity of creating a good business climate to stir the economy, Cayetano said the government “should find a way to discuss everything holistically and comprehensively.”

“Sana mapag-usapan din natin y’ung ano ba ang tamang amount na hindi naman tutumba o malulugi y’ung mga negosyo, pero at the same time y’ung ating mga laborers at workers kumita ng living wage,” the senator told his colleagues.

He stressed that the P35 minimum wage hike in the National Capital Region approved last July by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) was “too small” especially when compared with the salary increase and additional allowances for government workers approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week.

“I-compare natin y’ung in-approve ngayon na tranche para sa gobyerno, makikita mo hindi living wage ang ating minimum wage,” he said.

Alluding to the tale of the goose that laid the golden eggs, Cayetano said businesses should be protected but not at the expense of the very people who work for them. 

“Parati nating sinasabing don’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Pero yumayaman nang yumayaman y’ung may-ari ng [goose] who lays the golden eggs, habang y’ung nag-aalaga ng [goose] e pahirap nang pahirap,” he said.

Cayetano also put a spotlight on the alleged corruption in tax-collecting government agencies which negatively affects businesses. 

“Tayo (Pilipinas) ang pinakamataas ang tax rate [kumpara sa mga karatig-bansa] kasi tayo rin ang pinakamalakas sa lagayan. Twenty-five percent nga ang kinuha ng gobyerno, ang dineclare mo lang kalahati lang, o ‘di 12.5% lang ang binayad mo,” he said.

“I’m not pointing fingers here now (and saying) na kasi may mga negosyanteng corrupt, or kasi may corruption sa BIR. Wala namang perfect eh. But that’s why inaayos natin ang sistema,” he added.