The BLAS F. OPLE Policy Center and other OFW groups call on all consumers, OFWs and OFW families to sign up and join us in protesting the House proposal to impose a five-centavo tax on every text message.

We object to this measure on the following grounds:

1. Once a tax is imposed, the only way for it to go is up! Remember EVAT! From 10\% to 12\% and even when the entire country was reeling from the high costs of crude oil, the government refused to suspend or temporarily lower the EVAT on oil citing the need for revenues. Inevitably, this tax will be shouldered by consumers, not the telcos, no matter what our legislators say.

2. Earmarking revenues for education has never worked! We heard this before when they were proposing the EVAT. Sabi nila, lalakas ang ekonomiya at magkakaroon ng mas maigting na serbisyo lalo na para sa mahihirap. Remember Fort Boni? Government sold its vast property to fund AFP modernization. Nalusaw ang pondo, wala pa ring bagong eroplano, barko at maayos na medical equipment ang ating mga sundalo.

3. The world has yet to recover from the global economic crisis. Bagamat lumolobo ang utang ng gobyerno, siguro dapat isipin ng gobyerno na lumalaki din ang gastusin at pagkakautang ng ordinaryong Pilipino. Buti nga ang gobyerno, may ibang pagkukunan ng pondo - tayo ba meron?

4. With less than a year to go before the elections, isn't it more prudent for the House to just wait for the next president to craft a new economic and fiscal program for the country? Bagong liderato, bagong simula. Hayaan natin ang susunod na administrasyon ang maglatag ng sariling program tungkol sa pananalapi ng bayan.

On these and other grounds, we say NO to a Tax on Text!