House bill seeks travel tax exemption for children of solo parent-OFWs
By AJ Siytangco
Published Jan 28, 2019 05:18 pm
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The House Committee on Ways and Means approved on Monday a bill seeking to grant travel tax exemption to dependents of married or solo parent Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The House panel, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing passed House Bill 6138, principally authored by former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez.
The bill specifically amends Sections 3 and 35 of Republic Act 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by RA No. 10022.
The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, chaired by ANGKLA partylist Rep. Jesulito Manalo approved the bill in October last year.
Alvarez laments that that solo parent OFWs "face some sort of inequity in the field of taxation."
He said the children of solo parent OFWs are currently denied exemption from travel tax, an incentive to which broods of their married counterparts are entitled as provided for under Republic Act 6768, as amended, otherwise known as "An Act Instituting a Balikbayan Program.”
"Considering that solo parent OFWs are as equally worthy of government recognition as those married Filipino migrant workers, the single valid criterion being their honest and hard toil in foreign lands, this unfortunate circumstance must be remedied,” the former House Speaker said.
"There should be undivided and impartial recognition of the laudable and selfless hard work of all OFWs,” Alvarez said.
He noted that RA 8042 grants travel exemption solely to OFWs and not to their dependents, which is contrary to the provisions of RA 6768.
"This legislative proposal seeks to address the disproportion in tax treatment and apparent inconsistency between the laws involved by categorically providing travel tax exemption to children of both married or solo parent OFWs, amending RA 8042, as amended, “ Alvarez said.
House Bill 6138 provides that the migrant worker and his or her dependents shall be exempt from the payment of travel tax and airport fee upon proper showing of entitlement by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
It provides that within six months from the effectivity of the proposed Act, the Finance Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.
Joining Alvarez in filing the bill are former Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua and Leyte Rep. Lucy Gomez.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The House panel, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing passed House Bill 6138, principally authored by former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon "Bebot" Alvarez.
The bill specifically amends Sections 3 and 35 of Republic Act 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by RA No. 10022.
The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, chaired by ANGKLA partylist Rep. Jesulito Manalo approved the bill in October last year.
Alvarez laments that that solo parent OFWs "face some sort of inequity in the field of taxation."
He said the children of solo parent OFWs are currently denied exemption from travel tax, an incentive to which broods of their married counterparts are entitled as provided for under Republic Act 6768, as amended, otherwise known as "An Act Instituting a Balikbayan Program.”
"Considering that solo parent OFWs are as equally worthy of government recognition as those married Filipino migrant workers, the single valid criterion being their honest and hard toil in foreign lands, this unfortunate circumstance must be remedied,” the former House Speaker said.
"There should be undivided and impartial recognition of the laudable and selfless hard work of all OFWs,” Alvarez said.
He noted that RA 8042 grants travel exemption solely to OFWs and not to their dependents, which is contrary to the provisions of RA 6768.
"This legislative proposal seeks to address the disproportion in tax treatment and apparent inconsistency between the laws involved by categorically providing travel tax exemption to children of both married or solo parent OFWs, amending RA 8042, as amended, “ Alvarez said.
House Bill 6138 provides that the migrant worker and his or her dependents shall be exempt from the payment of travel tax and airport fee upon proper showing of entitlement by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
It provides that within six months from the effectivity of the proposed Act, the Finance Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.
Joining Alvarez in filing the bill are former Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua and Leyte Rep. Lucy Gomez.