MANILA, Philippines- Nalulugi ang gobyerno ng mahigit P88.2 bilyon noong 2023 sa usapin ng buwis dahil sa paggamit ng pekeng identification cards ng Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), ayon kay Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
Sa ginanap na pagdinig nitong Huwebes ng Senate committee on ways and means, sinabi ni Gatchslin na umaabot na sa mahigit 8.5 milyong PWDs sa bansa, samantalang aabot lamang sa 1.8 milyon ang legal na PWDs.
Ginagamit ang pekeng ID upang makakuha ng 20 porsyentong diskuwento at pagbabayad ng value-added tax exemption.
Sinabi ni Gatchalian na dulot ng lumobong bilang ng pekeng IDs, umaabot sa P166 bilyon ang halaga ng discount na naibigay ng tindahan sa pekeng PWDs.
Ayon kay Department of Finance (DOF) Assistant Secretary Karlo Adriano, ikinalulugi ng gobyerno at pribadong sektro ang diskuwentong ito na ibinigay sa pekeng PWDs.
“Aside from revenue foregone, if there are many fake IDs, it can also translate to higher prices for general consumers. These businesses are here to make profit and if the system is abused with these discounts, the only way to recoup those losses is to put a higher price,” ayon kay Adriano.
Pinatunayan naman ng Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (Resto PH) na umaabot sa 5% ng benta ang apektado ng PWD discount.
“Two years ago we detected 5 percent of our sales affected by PWD discounts. Now, we are seeing close to 25 percent or over which is a five fold increase in last two years,” pahayag ni Eric Teng, presidente ng Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (Resto PH).
“This inevitably will force us to raise prices. And when we raise prices, the effect will be to harm the persons with disabilities themselves. The legitimate disabled people will be the victims of these fake PWD cards,” ayon kay Teng.
“Our industry was about 16 billion dollars in 2023. If we were to factor 25 percent, that means about 1 billion dollars lost in sales for 2023,” dagdag ni Teng. “It’s a clear and present danger for the survival of the restaurant industry.”
Aniya, iba’t ibang uri ng modus operandi ang natutuklasan sa mga humihingi ng discount tulad ng mag-asawa na may iisang PWD ID number, isang piloto na nagdeklara ng visual disability, at isang buong pamilya na may PWD cards.
Ayon kay Teng, kumalat ang pekeng PWD IDs pagkatapos ng pandemic. Ernie Reyes
