Senator Joel Villanueva urged the revenue-generating government agencies to pressure Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to pay their supposed P50 billion tax deficiencies to augment funds for areas affected by Super Typhoon Rolly.
Villanueva called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure that all pending taxes are collected before allowing POGOs to shut down their operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Paubos na raw po ang ating pondo para sa mga biktima ng mga Bagyong Quinta at Rolly. Dapat pong mas maging determinado ang ating BIR na habulin ang utang ng mga POGO na nagkakahalaga ng P50 bilyon dahil magagamit natin ito pangtustos sa mga pangangailangan ng mga biktima ng bagyo,” he said.
“Move on na lang ba tayo sa pagkakautang ng mga POGO? Kahit po nagsasara na ang ilan sa mga POGO, dapat siguruhin ng BIR na sisingilin ng tamang buwis bago payagan isara ang kanilang mga negosyo,” he added.
Villanueva said that according to a recent report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the agency only has P254.35 million standby funds.
Also read: BIR changes tax requirements for Pogos to resume operations
Press POGOs to pay tax liabilities to raise Rolly response funds – Villanueva
The latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report said Super Typhoon Rolly affected over two million residents from 12 regions.
“Matindi po ang pinsala sa mga probinsya ng Catanduanes, Albay, Quezon, at Batangas, at sa iba pang mga bayan na direktang hinagupit ng Bagyong Rolly,” Villanueva said.
“Kailangan po ng mga LGU ng karagdagang tulong mula sa national government dahil alam po nating nagamit na ang karamihan sa calamity fund nila para sa COVID response sa kani-kanilang mga nasasakupan,” he added.
Villanueva hopes that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III would continue pushing revenue-generating agencies to collect the unpaid taxes of POGOs.
“Now more than ever, we need to plug tax leaks because the lives of the displaced depend on the assistance to our government. We cannot, and we should not fail them,” he said.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) earlier said more POGOs were seen to exit the Philippines due to tax “issues” with the government.