Tax Text?

Somebody stop me! Am I hearing it right? Is the Philippine Government proposing for an additional tax for sending text messages?  OMG!!! 

Last Wednesday, January 09, 2008, Trade Secretary Peter Favila proposed for the said tax on text messages. 

The proposed increase was P0.50.  

Do they know what the effect to the people will this increase bring?

 What are they anti- poor? 

Why don’t they propose increase taxes on liquor and cigarettes or pay more attention on smuggling or piracy?  

Text messaging is the most popular way of communication in the Philippines. That means that almost all Filipino’s own a cellular phone equaling to millions of messages being sent daily. No wonder the Philippines is the “Text Capital” of the world. Text messaging is the cheapest way to communicate with relatives, friends, co- workers, classmates and almost anybody whom one wants to keep in touch from near or distant places like far provinces and overseas, especially to those who do not have access to telephone landlines. For short it is important, especially for the economically marginalized sector of the country.

 I interviewed an 18 year old student and a housewife regarding to what they think about the proposal.According to the student, having a mobile phone will be useless if he can’t afford reloading it. Students like him find it difficult to budget their tiny allowances for jeep fare and food, what more for an increase in the price for text messaging? Mean while the housewife strongly disagrees! She thinks that the collected tax will just benefit the corrupt government officials. Well I can’t really blame her; corruption is big in the Philippines. 

 Favila told in an interview that imposing a tax on short messaging system (SMS) could make Filipinos shift their focus on endeavors that are more productive. “Texting is also a source of negative reason (and) it makes people more cynical” he said. -From GMAnews

 Well I think that’s pathetic! He is stereotyping people. Not all people are becoming unproductive nor are sending senseless messages. And it’s none of anybody’s business to what kind of message that one sends. Sure thing texting became the means of communication for sending political messages like the People Power last 2001 at EDSA when former President Joseph Estrada was asked to be removed from his office and was soon replaced by his Vice President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo. But don’t you think it’s quite unfair to label all as becoming more cynical? Don’t the people have the freedom to express themselves, even in just texting? Isn’t the Philippines supposed to be a democratic country?

 I for one send funny messages to my family and friends and in return they reply me with a lol or a funny message as well and we all have a good time. Take my uncle in Canada for example he told me that the inspiring and funny messages that I sent him made him smile. He even shared the funny messages with his friends there abroad and they all have a good laugh. It made them feel that we are not millions of miles away, isn’t that great or what? I used to send loads of messages everyday during those times when this one network that I used to subscribe was kinda “Giving”. I was able to send plenty of text messages with just a capital of P10.00, and take note sending a message abroad will cost P15.00. How do I do that? Well I don’t know either; maybe the network was so new that they had poor monitoring system, that’s why I took the opportunity (I’m such a parasite, hehehe). I even had a text mate from the USA and Canada that time! 

On the other hand the Favila’s purpose for the increase was good though, he personally favors this as a means for possible additional source of revenue in the light proposal to scrap or suspend taxes on oil products. In fair view the Filipino’s keep complaining about the increasing price of the gasoline which is tantamount to an elevated fare rate.

So what do you think? Will you want an increased price in text messaging or an aid to decreased tax on oil products? You can think all you want but the decision lay in the beautiful hands of the government officials. Let’s just pray that they weigh the choices for the greatest common good.  

Peace y’all!!!