For all the good intentions and its overall positive impact on the economy, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, or TRAIN, is not without fault. Many consumers and certain key sectors of the economy stand to suffer by way of slower sales, and higher consumer prices and utility rates.
Even its passage is suspect. The august halls of Congress was filled with only 10 lawmakers, yet a bicameral version of the tax reform bill was ratified. The bicameral committee formed to merge the TRAIN versions of the two houses of Congress may have weaved its magic to move for its ratification. Yet, talks linger about irregularities in the bill’s approval, midnight insertions and lack of quorum.
A member of the House of Representatives, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tino, slammed what he claims was the lack of quorum during the ratification of the bicameral version of TRAIN. News reports said only 10 lawmakers were present on the floor at that time.
If the rules of the House were to be abided by, the bicameral committee was short of 137 lawmakers in order to reach a quorum. Having 10 people on the floor seems a bit of a stretch from the 147 required.
Members of PDP-Laban, the president’s party, were busy enjoying a soiree at Sofitel Plaza Hotel. The voting must have been done over Facetime or Viber, whatever suits the lawmakers.
Some senators have also cried foul over the insertion of several provisions that are different from what have been initially agreed upon by the bicameral committee. The hallways of the Senate are filled with hushed whispers of two alleged bicameral committee reports circulating—one containing what has agreed upon while the other reflects the midnight insertions made by several lawmakers.
The current administration enjoys a strong support from all sectors—from Congress to every socio-economic bracket of the population—but one can’t help but wonder why it had to discard with all the legalities and thrust its landmark tax reform program into the abyss of public doubt.
President Rodrigo Duterte has just signed into law a tax measure that will affect every single Filipino, living and yet to be born, but one that blatantly disregarded the law.
The TRAIN is a law that will affect present and future Filipinos. The Filipino people deserve a tax reform program that has been carefully reviewed and studied by the very people they elected to be their representatives.
The deep and long-term ramifications of the tax reform demands that more time be allowed for more deliberate study and analyses. Experts must be consulted for their views and, most importantly, a thorough hearing of the opinions and concerns of all the affected sectors must have been done.
Smooth transition
Much has been said and written about the importance of having an efficient and impressive airport to receive local and foreign visitors.
Unfortunately, decades of neglect, incompetence and corruption have resulted in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) being ranked as the world’s worst airport from 2011 to 2013, and fourth worst in 2014. While the Naia was not listed in the top 10 worst airports in the world in 2015, it was named the eighth worst in Asia. In 2016, the country’s premier gateway to the world was named the fifth worst airport in Asia.
Fortunately, it did not make the list in 2017. Passengers have been reporting a smooth and fast experience, from landing at the airport to retrieving their bags, and even to getting a ride home.
Even as the Duterte administration seems to be doing a great job of setting things in order at the Naia, some loose ends must be tied up to allow for a smooth transition to the airport’s privatization.
Recent reports about the plan of several major corporations to band together for the rehabilitation of Naia, as well as proposals from other companies to construct new airports in Bulacan or Cavite are indeed welcome news. Just look at the vast improvement being made at the Cebu and Caticlan airports, the operations (except for the air traffic services) and maintenance of which have been privatized.
There is, of course, still much to be done.
The Manila International Airport Authority, the government agency responsible for managing the Naia, must ensure at all times that the Naia provides its passengers with excellent customer service, world-class facilities, high-quality security and safety standards. This it cannot sustain if it continues with its current practice of renewing on a month-to-month basis the contracts of all the Naia’s service providers and concessionaires.
How would these suppliers be expected to provide job security to their employees? How would these companies or concessionaires be expected to put in new investments unless their services are contracted in the usual long-term engagement?
What the MIAA should do is to ensure a smooth transition between the present set-up and the further streamlining and enhancement of Naia’s operations and management.
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