A local research group is urging the Duterte government to re-think its recently proposed tax reform package and consider taxing the rich.

IBON Foundation, in a statement on Tuesday, described the Department of Finance’s proposed tax plan as “elitist” and “inconsistent with President Rodrigo Duterte’s pro-poor stance.”

It said the administration should not burden the poor with new taxes and “be brave enough to tax the richest businesses and families.”

The statement came after the DOF submitted the first package of its reform program to the House of Representatives. The controversial proposal will effectively reduce personal income tax but will increase excise tax on oil and automobile products.

READ: DOF files tax reform package, seeks reduction in income tax

Solons from the minority bloc criticized the DOF for passing the burden of tax to consumers and removing the exemption of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) from value-added tax (VAT).

READ: Solons warn DOF tax reform package to pass on burden to consumers

According to IBON, the poor will suffer the most from higher prices of goods and services, as well as transport fares.

“The DOF’s argument that the new higher taxes are progressive is unsound,” it said, adding that the new program will have a bigger effect on the poor since “a peso for the poor is worth so much more to them than even hundreds or thousands of pesos for the rich.”

“The additional tax burden that is being put on the poor majority of consumers is unjust amid their already very low incomes and insecure livelihoods to begin with,” IBON said. “The administration’s economic managers should not be so reluctant to tax the biggest corporations and wealthiest families and businessmen to raise revenue for social and economic services.” CDG

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