AMIN Reps Visit and Turn Over Projects

in Central Mindanao

On June 30, 2009 AMIN Representatives Mujiv Hataman and Ariel Hernandez accompanied by two members of the party’s National Council, Datu George Quitoriano and Mr.Benedick Garde visited and turned over various projects amounting to a total of Four Million Pesos (P 4,000,000) to constituents in Cotabato City, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao and Midsayap, North Cotabato:

Youth Development Center in Rosary Heights 5, Cotabato City, a joint project with the Cotabato City Local Government and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation. AMIN allocated One Million Pesos (P 1,000,000) for the said building which will serve as venue for youth organizations’ trainings, seminars, meetings and other activities. The Youth Center was turned over to the custody of the Rosary Heights Barangay Council and SK Federation.

Six (6) trisikads (padyak) were also awarded to the members of Cotabato City Trisikad Drivers Association of the said barangay, Rosary Heights 5, Cotabato City.

Meanwhile, livelihood projects amounting to 1.5 million pesos were also visited and formally turned over by AMIN Party list. The following projects are to be implemented by the Kutawato Council for Justice and Peace, Inc. a non- government organization in Cotabato City and Department of Trade and Industry XII.

. Maguindanao Cotabato City – OFW Federation for Development, Inc.

The federation was organized in the last quarter of 2003 and composed of OFW organizations. It aims to collectively air the rights of its members, protect the OFWs as well as their families and as a group develop and capacitate themselves in looking for other sources of livelihood. The projects were given to two(2) member organizations of the federation- Dulangan OFW Organization and Tambak Women’s OFW Association. The former, composed of 23 members opened a mini-grocery store to be managed by the OFWs and their relatives while the latter, composed of 18 members will operate a complete Muslim Decoration Making Shop to not just augment their income but also promote their culture.   

2. Miteledted Women

This is an urban-poor women organization formed in Malagapas and composed of Christian and Teduray urban poor women. The project requested : hog-raising, for fattening and later on for selling. The amount of capital outlay will be revolved among women members for sustainability of the project as well as to provide equal opportunity to all members to participate in this undertaking. The second project  is food vending, where Local delicacies will be sold and vend to generate income. The capital released for this project will be extended to the beneficiaries and later on will be paid to the organization. Once the amount extended will be accumulated to the organization, it would then be revolved to members for sustainability.

3. Youth for Change and Democracy

Organized last July 2008 to cater to the various needs of the youth, YCD aims to bring about change for the betterment and development of its members. Having been a recipient of a similar project from Anak Mindanao YCD requested and received allocation for an internet café. By engaging in an income-generating project, the organization seeks to reach out to other youth, especially those out of school and provide them with opportunities to be able to go back to school.

A Multi-Purpose building for the Senior Citizens worth One Million Pesos (P 1,000,000) was also turned over by the two Representatives in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

SOLON URGES REVIEW OF ‘OPLAN KANDADO’

AMID REPORTS OF ABUSE, LOST JOBS

A party-list lawmaker called for a review of the “Oplan Kandado” program of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), expressing alarm that it may not be producing the desired results amid reports of abuses and lost jobs.

Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman said no less than Finance Secretary Margarito Teves in recent dialogues with chambers of commerce has acknowledged possible abuses committed by some BIR personnel in enforcing the "Oplan Kandado" program.

Hataman said the solid accomplishment so far of the program, aimed at instilling “chill-factor” to tax-evading businessmen, was to render business establishments closed, whether temporarily or permanent, and put employees out of work.

He said the much-vaunted higher revenue to be generated by the program remains to be proven even as he noted the dismal collection record of the BIR in the first four months of the year.

From January to April, the peak months of the "Oplan Kandado" program, the BIR collected only P241.8 billion, down by P16.2 billion from the P258 billion it collected during the same months last year, when the "Oplan" was not enforced.

The Department of Finance (DOF) has even slashed BIR's full-year target collection of P850.6 billion to P798.2 billion because of expected lower tax collection this year.

The DOF said the “chilling-effect” of the padlocking of erring business establishments should encourage other businessmen to pay correct taxes and shore up government’s tax revenues by P10 billion more.

Hataman said the expected additional gains from the "Oplan" is now wishful thinking because for the first four months of the year alone, the government has already lost P16.2 billion.

“BIR’s Oplan Kandado has single-handedly put in reverse the job-generation program of the government by throwing workers out in the streets just because their employers are suspected of not paying the right taxes,” Hataman said.

He wondered how a business owner, after investing millions on his business and even managed to get a pricey location would risk losing his business just because he didn’t pay the right taxes.

The BIR recently closed several establishments on Boracay island, The Fort in Taguig City and in Morato area in Quezon City.

Hataman said that before he’s misunderstood as championing the lot of tax evaders, owners of erring business establishments should also be turned into “state witnesses” to squeal on corrupt BIR personnel who assured them that “everything is okey” as long as the “tongpats” money continues to flow.

The lawmaker urged the BIR to look into the alleged involvement of its personnel in corruption.

“Common sense dictates that these establishments could have not escape detection without the assistance of corrupt BIR employees,” he said. The BIR assigns a revenue chief for every district.

Hataman said he has met workers who recently lost their jobs after the establishments they worked in were closed by the BIR.

He said of the 40 business establishments padlocked or targeted for shutdown this month by the BIR, there could be 600 workers who would lose their jobs.

He said applying the so-called multiplier effect of economists, the closing down of 40 stores will have a negative multiplier effect of:

- lost jobs since 40 stores closed mean 600 or more people jobless if the store employs a minimum 15 workers;

- plus 2,400 more people affected if the worker has at least four dependents (600 x 4);

- losses for at least six suppliers affected if the store is a restaurant or a food business with one supplier employing three people (for a total of 18 people)

- revenue losses by local government units from business tax and permit renewal etc;

- lost income taxes from workers; and,

- lost collections by Social Security System (SSS) from the abrupt stoppage in the workers’ monthly contribution and other government agencies like Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth if the worker is a member.

Hataman said the families of workers will also stop patronizing restaurants, movie houses and other spending activities that are important in shoring up private consumption, which registered a decline in the first quarter of 2009.

“There’s a slew of revenue stream and sectors that would be disrupted for every closing of a business establishment,” he said.

Hataman said even if the closed establishment is allowed to open weeks after complying with the BIR demands, the stigma of being tagged as a tax evader and the foregone revenues will remain.

“Above all else, while I commended the BIR chief and the DOF secretary for coming out with this program, closing down business establishments and affecting workers and their families do not foster business confidence during an economic crisis and when government is asking the private sector to boost investments to pump-prime the economy,” the lawmaker said.

He said there could be a way for a suspected tax-evading establishment to continue to operate while adhering to a BIR-sanctioned tax re-payment scheme without endangering the livelihood of workers.

Hataman welcomed the pronouncements made by Finance Secretary Teves that the Kandado program is undergoing review after reports that some BIR officials are abusing the program.

AMIN HOLDS 8^TH COUNCIL MEETING

            The National Council of Anak Mindanao Party List held its 8^th Council Meeting last June 13, 2009 at the SCARBIDC Conference Room, Sta. Clara, Lamitan, Basilan.

            With fifteen council members in attendance, a quorum was declared with AMIN National President Mahmor Edding presiding over the said meeting.

            Included in the agenda was the affirmation of the 7^th Council Meeting Minutes of the Meeting and Resolutions, one of which was a Resolution calling for the conduct of Peoples’ Consultations prior to the conduct of the official AMIN Congress in view of the participation of the party in the 2010 elections.

            Also present during the council meeting were AMIN Representatives Mujiv Hataman and Ariel Hernandez, who presented and updated the council of their respective programs and initiatives in the House of Representatives.

            Rep. Hataman eagerly informed the council that the Anti Discrimination Bill he filed was already passed in Congress and is now expected to be deliberated in Senate. He said that advocacy groups have been formed to lobby the bill in the Upper House.

            AMIN’s newly-proclaimed Representative, Rep. Ariel “Ayi” Hernandez presented his three focus-advocacies which include Peace, Small and Medium Enterprises and Migration. He further expressed his vision towards the strengthening of AMIN as a party.