Attending his first press conference as head of the Department of Finance, Secretary Ralph Recto said the Marcos administration will continue to review new tax proposals eyed before his appointment, but assured that none will be pursued in the meantime.

However, he said the proposed new taxes on sweetened beverages and junk food have been deleted from the list of state proposals.

A proposed increase in the Motor Vehicle User”s Charge (MVUC) is also expected to be dropped as vehicle owners, especially in Metro Manila and other urban areas, are expected to cry foul to the proposal.

While government continues to impose MVUC, roads are being narrowed with the mandatory allocation of bicycle lanes and exclusive lanes for public utility buses.

“We are tempering that proposal because I think iyong motorista marami nang buwis na binabayaran. There are excise taxes and VAT and oil,” he explained.

“As to imposing new taxes, there are no plans of imposing additional new taxes. I think our first job is to collect what is on the table,” Recto added.

Notwithstanding his plan to give Filipinos relief from additional taxes, Recto said his goal this year is to generate P4.3 trillion for government.

According to the former lawmaker, government will also pursue P2.4 trillion in loans in order to enliven the country’s economy.

Recto directed the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs to be all-out in raising the revenue target for this year. He also called for more transparency, a serious anti-corruption effort and a push for digitalization of their respective revenue systems.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. appeared confident the revenue target of P3 trillion will be accomplished.

Lumagui said the BIR intends to increase tax collection efficiency by “making it easier for taxpayers to comply” and by educating them the proper way of complying with tax regulations.

For his part, Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio’s target collection of P1 trillion in 2024 may be reached through collaboration with other law enforcement agencies in the protection of the country’s borders and prevention of the entry of contrabands and smuggled goods.