Senator Sonny Angara urged the government to use revenues from the new tax reform law to benefit country’s public transportation particularly the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).
“The TRAIN law should fix our trains. Hindi na po makatarungan na libu-libong pasahero ang naaagrabyado dahil sa madalas na despalinghadong serbisyo ng ating MRT at LRT. Dapat ay siguruhin ng gobyerno na ang makokolektang buwis ay mapupunta sa mga programang mapakikinabangan ng bawat Pilipino,” Angara said in a statement on Tuesday.
Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law provides 70% of the yearly incremental revenues generated will be allocated to the Build, Build, Build Program and other infrastructure programs that seek to address congestion through better mass transport and new road networks.
The part of the 70% will go to projects seeking improvement of military infrastructure, sports facilities in public schools, and potable drinking water supply in all public places.
The other 30% of generated revenues from TRAIN law will be allocated to social mitigating measures and investments in education, health, targeted nutrition, and anti-hunger programs, social protection, employment, and housing that prioritize and directly benefit both the poor and near-poor households.
“If we provide the public an efficient, dependable, safe and affordable public transport system, it would definitely encourage more Filipinos to take mass transit rather than use their own cars, which would reduce traffic congestion in the country,” Angara said.
“Bukod sa mas malaking take-home pay dahil sa mas mababang income tax simula ngayong taon, dapat ay maramdaman na rin ng ating mga kababayan ang mas pinabuting mga serbisyong pampubliko na siyang nilalayon ng batas na ito,” the senator added.
Also, the Department of Transportation stated that lack of available spare parts is one of the reasons of more than 500 MRT breakdowns in 2017 that caused thousands of passengers to disembark due to disrupted operations. (Angelica Bobiles – PTV)
