Workers willing to join opposition-led People’s Congress to air grievances vs. VAT hike, anti-poor measures

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today said their group is willing to join and mobilize for the opposition-led People’s Congress to further air the workers’ and poor people’s grievances against the two percent Value Added Tax (VAT) hike which was recently approved in the Lower House despite massive resistance from various sectors.

“We will join the People’s Congress if it’s the only way for us to air our immeasurable dissatisfaction with the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. We just hope opposition leaders will invite us to the People’s Congress. Ordinary workers are often neglected by the government, especially our demands for much-needed wage hikes,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.

“We firmly believe that the VAT hike will seriously affect the poor, mostly wage earners, urban and rural poor. Claims that the EVAT will not distress poor people are nothing but lies and hypocrisy,” Labog said.

One meal a day for workers

KMU expressed further concern on the actual effects of EVAT on the people’s livelihood. “It is likely that workers and their families will have to make do with only one meal per day as soon as the VAT hike is implemented. “If we will consider House Speaker Jose De Venecia’s twisted argument that salt and bagoong (fish sauce) are VAT exempted, ito na lang ang kakainin ng mga manggagawa araw-araw.”

Unlike Malacanang’s claim, the VAT hike will cover almost all goods and services. Business group Employers Conferederation of the Philippines (ECOP) already affirmed that business owners are not likely to shoulder the VAT hike and will eventually pass the burden to consumers.”

The labor leader also thanked party list representatives from Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women’s Party, Partido ng Manggagawa and opposition legislators who walked out of the VAT deliberations in Congress last Wednesday. “We commend them for sharing the people’s sentiments against anti-poor measures promoted by the Arroyo administration. We also hope anti-VAT Senators will keep up the legislative fight against this anti-poor tax measure.”

Pro-VAT officials lambasted for using issues of the poor

“Workers and poor people were not even consulted on the EVAT. We witnessed how the pro-vat officials have been spewing out lies that the VAT will benefit the poor’s need for social services like health care, education, housing, public works and others. We warn House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and other pro-VAT government officials to stop using poor people’s issues to justify the EVAT.”

Labog added, “Malacanang is giving the people more reasons to despise Mrs. Arroyo with the passage of the expanded VAT in the Lower House courtesy of pro-administration legislators. We will never forget those legislators who voted in favor of EVAT. When the right time comes, we will make them pay for their wrongdoings against the people.”