BIR: Give TRAIN law a chance

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—The Revenue District Office (RDO) here is appealing to all Ilocanos to give the new tax reform law a chance.

While discussing the main features of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) in a local press conference here, Ruby Retamal, group supervisor under the assessment section of the RDO Laoag City said the simplified value-added tax system aims to reduce poverty from 26% to 17% of some 10 million Filipinos.

Under the Duterte administration, the TRAIN is a priority reform of the national government. Through TRAIN, every Filipino contributes in funding more infrastructure and social services to eradicate extreme poverty and reduce inequality.

For some Ilocos Norte residents who are earning an average income, the implementation of TRAIN is beneficial to them as they enjoy paying less personal income taxes.

But for others who requested anonymity, the new tax reform law is just a “pain in the “ss’ citing the cost of living also increased due to higher prices of commodities including fuel.

Ms. Retamal, however, explained the impact of the new tax reform law is “long-term”.

For now, she said the Filipinos will not feel the immediate effect cannot yet but in the next few years, change will become more evident for the common good.

“Let us give TRAIN a chance. The change in tax administration means reform. It means higher budget for education, better employment viability, it attracts investors and there will be higher budget for health, social protection, welfare and employment and stronger workforce,” she said as she urged residents here to help in making the Philippines move forward.

To sustain the “build, build, build” program of the national government, the TRAIN will reportedly fund the concreting of the 14,187-kilometer national roads, provision of road access to 7,834 isolated barangays and 23,293 sitios and to irrigate 1.3 million hectares of land among others.

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