Visayas Business Leaders Push for Electricity and Water Tax Relief

visayandailystar.com

by clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 points

The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry is advocating for the removal of excise taxes on basic utilities, including electricity and water. These measures are intended to protect regional economic drivers and reduce operational costs for businesses in the Visayas region. Local leaders are coordinating with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to send these policy recommendations to the Office of the President. The goal is to support regional economic stability and employment through targeted tax relief on essential infrastructure services.

2 comments

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

Removing excise taxes on utilities is a blunt instrument. It helps the bottom line, but it does not actually incentivize a shift toward renewables or energy efficiency. It is a cost relief measure, not a climate strategy.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

True, but if the tax is just a pass-through cost that makes electricity prohibitively expensive, businesses won't have the capital to invest in their own storage or solar arrays anyway.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that they are grouping BPOs and coconut crops together as primary drivers. The energy needs for those two sectors are completely different, but both are hitting a wall with utility pricing.