The resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) remain on track and a final agreement on ending the decades old Mindanao conflict is expected to be reached this year.

In a radio interview this morning, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye reiterated that the on-going military campaign in the South is not directed against the MILF but against terrorist elements who have sought refuge in areas controlled by the MILF.

He explained that the Arroyo government was in touch with MILF leaders on developments in Mindanao.

"We are optimistic that the peace talks would resume at the earliest time possible and eventually pave the way for the formal signing of a peace agreement between the MILF and the government," he said.

Malaysia has offered to host the forthcoming peace talks and act as third country facilitator. Kuala Lumpur has also dispatched a 43-team to help monitor the Mindanao ceasefire.

In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), but the accord did not cover the MILF, which used to be a part of the MNLF.

TOP

Malacaņang today lamented the grandstanding of certain lawmakers on the Value Added Tax (VAT) bill and efforts by opponents of the measure to whip up people’s emotion against the proposal in the guise of protecting the poor.

In a radio interview this morning, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said it is unfair and grossly one-sided for opponents of the VAT to denounce the proposal as anti-poor without citing the merits of the bill.

He said that a study conducted by the Consumers Oil Price Watch of businessman Raul Concepcion showed that "increasing the VAT has minimal effect on prices of prime commodities. Increasing the VAT to 12 percent from the present 10 percent will increased by only 1.8 percent."

Based on the COPW study, the price of sardines, corned beef, pandesal, bread, cooking oil, refined sugar, instant noodles, evaporated milk, coffee refill, toilet soap, detergent bars, steel bars and other basic commodities would increase by only l.8 percent.

Moreover, Bunye stressed that some of these basic commodities may not be covered at all by the new VAT.

The COPW study also showed that for Metro Manilans, who consume 30 cubic meters of water or less, the 1.8 percent additional VAT would be a mere P5.55 a month or one and one-eighth of a centavo (P0l.8) per day.

This means that for Metro Manilans under this water consumption level, their present monthly water bill of P302.22 will increase to P307.77.

"Let’s stop grandstanding. Instead of grandstanding, let’s conduct our own research and present to the public the results so that we can compare it with the study conducted by the group of Mr. Raul Concepcion. So the public will know who are telling the truth about the very minimal effects of the VAT on ordinary consumers," Bunye said.

"These are cold and hard facts based on a research study. These are all based on research and not on emotion and grandstanding of others that we all know what kind of agenda they are pushing," he added.

Bunye expressed confidence that in the end the anti-VAT lawmakers would realize that the tax proposal is not anti-poor and, ultimately, the measure would hurdle opposition.

TOP

I would like to appeal to our senators to stay the course with me on the VAT issue at this crucial point in our economy.

There can never be a better time to demonstrate our enlightened leadership to liberate the poor from cyclic poverty and bring them lasting prosperity.

I respect the views of the senators and I know their noble intentions.

But we have gained clear momentum in our fiscal reforms and we must not turn back the clock on urgent change.

I thrust in the wisdom and statesmanship of our Senators to hold our banner high for the future generations of Filipinos.

TOP