THE House Committee on the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program will convene to review the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law when Congress resumes session on Jan. 14, Rep. Estrellita B. Suansing said.
“We will convene definitely as soon as the session opens,” Ms. Suansing, who chairs the Committee on Ways and Means and represents the first district of Nueva Ecija, told BusinessWorld over the phone.
Ms. Suansing was recently appointed by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to chair the Committee on the CTRP.
The review comes a year after the implementation of Republic Act No. 10963, or the TRAIN Law, which lowered personal income tax, but increased excise taxes on oil, automobile and tobacco products, among others.
Ms. Suansing said the committee, in particular, will look into the implementation and effectivity of the social protection programs provided under the TRAIN Law.
“We will learn about the status of those programs program. For example, the coupons and vouchers for the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program). Those have to be offered, but in my district the social welfare officers aren’t aware of them,” Ms. Suansing said.
“We’ll find out if (the law is) really meeting its objectives.”
The safety-net measures under the TRAIN Law include the distribution of unconditional cash transfers to low-income households, amounting to P200 per month in 2018. The benefit will increase to P300 in 2019.
The law also provides for fuel vouchers for public utility jeepneys, fare discounts, and discounted purchases of National Food Authority (NFA) rice.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Ways and Means will continue its deliberations on bills and resolutions that propose to suspend the P2 oil excise tax hike for 2019.
The additional imposition was made effective on Jan. 1, 2019, but Ms. Suansing maintained the panel will hasten passage of the measures to go ahead with the suspension, she said.
The higher taxes were provided for under TRAIN law, which imposed a P2.5 per liter increase in the fuel excise tax in 2018, P2 in 2019 and P1.5 in 2020. A technical working group, led by Rep. Romero S. Quimbo of the second district of Marikina, went over the bills and resolutions ahead of the congressional break on Dec. 14. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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