Taxing text

to think that telcos will not pass this tax to consumers is wishful thinking. these companies are deregulated, they can pass anything they want in their rates.
if you want regulation, we can go back to the time when only one telco existed and getting a phone line takes several YEARS with no guarantee of ever getting one. that telco today is still at it, providing service to a select few customers

Telcos would not make so much profit if Filipinos would not be so extreme text addict. Probably 95% of texting is more or less blabla and nonsense, just often blocking services for really oiimportant messages.
Go around, people walk and look at their handy instead at their way. One could think they need only one hand for work while the other is texting, even grade schoolers already. And many of their parents claim for tuition reduction because they have not enough money. Go to their homes, everyone has a handy, they of course have TV and karaoke components and eat out at weekend at Jollybee.
Like in other countries, there should be a certain number of free SMS per month or prepaid card and additional SMS at least one Peso each. The Telcos would still earn and afford taxes and the senseless textinng all the day over would be limited. SMS should be a kind of useful communication, not a stupid tool for stupid communication. It would also limit all the unwanted messages thrown around since there are no SPAM filters like to eMails. And stop that system of unlimited texting, it only brings people, and esp. students, away from their duties, family life and homework.

please read all the blogs in this website that all dealers and retailers wrote their predicaments in their blog about telcos

please read all the blogs in this website http://www.dealersunited.webnode.com. All dealers and retailers wrote their predicaments and complaints on telcos new policy and regulations on electronic loading of Smart and Globe reduced discounts and re-tagging of dealers and retailers regionalization/territorialization. Is this advance deduction on profit of dealers and retailers a preparation of Smart & Globe to the passing and implementation of tax on text? Dealers & retalers are discontented and disgusted with the new policy and regulation of these 2 big telco companies. The media should take a look into this problem and should help businessmen/women to take this things into front page headline news. So telcos will give their sides of explanations why they have to implement this policy without the text tax bill passed/approved for implementation yet.

Who is taxing who? Almost everytime I am ripped off of my load through these giants. and to think the govt will tax me more on those drained loads?

There has always been the warning that taxing txting would creat a big uproar and protest. Looking at this blog, it does not seem that in reality it is an interesting or important matter even totext addicts.
So, let's tax texting and use the money for to improve more importsnt communicaton opportunities. Only, the money should not just disappear in useless projects with high kickbacks....

"Like in other countries, there should be a certain number of free SMS per month or prepaid card and additional SMS at least one Peso each."

--> If you would recall this was already carried out by Globe (free SMS per month) and Smart (free SMS per load) a long time ago. And I think they're past that stage already. They've realized that consumers are not content with that.

"And stop that system of unlimited texting, it only brings people, and esp. students, away from their duties, family life and homework."

--> I'm sorry, but I beg to disagree. In our school organization, we have to disseminate information to many members. Unlimited texting has really allowed us to be text much more people without making it very painful for our wallets.

Just a thought.

Texting should be taxed because it's more of a luxury rather than a necessity.

First of all, there are already taxes being imposed on the current text/call cost to consumers. There is no need for a new tax to overlay on existing taxes.

What the Govt should do is to solicit via formal invitations to these telco giants to sponsor the programs/projects like education, health or low cost housing.

Private foundations benefitting nature and the public is also one step that these telcos can do.

Im sure these telcos will heed and share their enormous blessings to the people where they emanate their profits in the first place.

Its bad precedent to always impose taxes on industries who are doing well and profiting while these telcos are playing it above board and transparent.

We can always ask these successfull companies to engage in philanthropy.

EVAT at the moment is keeping the country afloat and its enough already.

The reason the price of fuel does not go down as much as we expect is because our government has a devils pact with the fuel companies not to lower the fuel prices as it should be. You can discern from the way the Secretary, Angelo Reyes, speaks is that he is adamant to change the situation.

By keeping the prices of fuel disproportionately with the world oil prices, our government can get billions worth of indirect taxes on this arrangement. It is like dividing the spoils between the oil distributor and the government. But then, this scheme is not only immoral, but also anomalous. Why maintain a high price of fuel at the expense of the whole Filipino in general.

Our government is going crazy where to get additional money, which eventually comes as form of taxes. The word ‘balance budget’ has never been achieved by our government. We have to service our debt from foreign commitment.

The problem is that our government has never been prudent in making the yearly budget. It aims for a big budget which in the end it cannot sustain except to borrow. It never intends to operate within its limits.

And unfortunately, these, after deducting the debt payments, majority of the money are diverted to corruption. Now, these culprits, especially those from the executive branch of the government are aiming not in millions but in billions of pesos which eventually ends up in there pocket.

What have they achieved in the one trillion and two hundred billion budget of 2008? NOTHING SPECIAL, MOSSST OF THE MONEY HAS GONE WASTED!

...Telcos are not losing in this text business...they earn millions more. That's why they are able to pay their executives lucrative salaries and heavenly benefits. These are facts! They earn more, this means their cost can still be lowered. Check and balance...profit should not be sky is the limit...cost should be balance to the capabilities of its citizenry to pay. And profit is modest for a company to continue its business and not to make the people its milking cow! Holy cow...what is our government doing on this? That's why the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing...oo nga pala holy moly...their hands are busy on corruption too. pati si police dog natin...naging euro dollar police dog...ay naku...wala na mapuntahan ang PILIPINAS!

Wonder woman,

I have a question for you.

Do you also consider MERALCO, ERC and some senators and congressmen's agreement on the distribution of electricity by Meralco a Devil's Pact also???

all taxes should be abolished including property taxes, we should do what the early Americans did after they gained their independence from England, no taxes, especially direct taxes like the income tax, all their govt's money came from tarriffs on certain imported products, like tobacco and alcohol. that is the way to go.

wolfkiller Says:
February 22nd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
all taxes should be abolished including property taxes, we should do what the early Americans did after they gained their independence from England, no taxes, especially direct taxes like the income tax, all their govt’s money came from tarriffs on certain imported products, like tobacco and alcohol. that is the way to go.

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What a relief not one government has used this kind of logic. Otherwise no country anywhere in the world could have managed to run an efficient and effective government, implement educational and peace and order programs, and the construction of infrastructure like roads, bridges and highways.

kasalanan nyo rin mga pilipino yan kung milyon milyon ang profit ng mga telecom companies! wala kayong ginawa kundi mag text the whole day, instead na mag-isip ng way kun paano uunlad ang buhay nyo! sa halip na ibili ng pag-kain, uunahin pa ang pambili ng load! kaya ayan, pilipinas ang text capital ng buong mundo! and para sa inyo malaking honor na 'yun!