By Alec Go
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night (Aug. 9) considered granting tax relief to medical oxygen manufacturers amid the country’s fight against COVID-19.
Duterte said in his pre-recorded public address that he will talk to Congress to cut or ease the taxes imposed on oxygen firms as the country prepares for a possible demand rise on the equipment.
“Kailangan talaga natin ng maraming oxygen… If it is really goes out of control, we would need all the oxygens that they can produce para sa mga tao. Kailangan talaga,” he said.
“‘Yung manufacturers… I’ll talk to Congress, bigyan kayo ng tax relief diyan sa ginagawa ninyo for you are producing a very vital component in the fight against the COVID-19 and the variant Delta,” he added.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his Aug. 10 briefing that Duterte has not yet mentioned an exact percentage for the tax relief, which he said would encourage manufacturers to boost production in preparation for a Delta-driven spike.
“Hayaan na muna natin ang economic managers to propose to Congress the exact figure. I’m sure with the level of cooperation being extended by Congress, mapapabilis ang pagpasa ng batas na ito,” Roque said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier gave the assurance that the country has a sufficient supply of medical-grade oxygen, with the addition of 30 newly licensed manufacturers.
FDA Director-General Eric Domingo said there are 81 manufacturers in the country, 51 of which provide supplies to hospitals while 30 are hospitals with oxygen-generating plants. – jlo
