Malaki ang pasasalamat ni Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda sa paglagda ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa batas na naglalagay ng Value-Added Tax (VAT) sa mga nonresident digital service providers (DSPs). Ang kita mula rito ay ilalagay sa isang pondo na gagamitin upang suportahan ang lokal na creatives industry.

“I thank President Marcos for signing the VAT on nonresident DSPs with its earmarking of funds for the creatives sector,” 

Ayon sa kongresista, dati ay hindi nakakapili ang mga Pilipino ng mas murang mga produkto at serbisyo mula sa mga foreign DSPs dahil hindi sila nagbabayad ng VAT sa ating bansa. 

“For the longest time, our VAT system has taxed domestic creatives while allowing foreign companies to sell to Filipinos without any tax. This meant that our local creatives sector was competing with their hands tied behind their backs while foreigners had full access to our market. The 12% difference in treatment is no small matter – indeed, before this law, it meant that foreign creatives in the digital space could be sold cheaper than their domestic competitors.”

Ngayon, dahil sa bagong batas, pareho na ang pagtrato sa mga lokal at dayuhang kompanya.

“The law ends this unfair treatment. Same product, same digital space, same consumers, same rules, same taxes. That is the logic and doctrine.”

Inaasahan ni Salceda na makakolekta ang gobyerno ng P8-12 bilyon sa unang taon ng pagpapatupad ng VAT sa mga foreign DSPs.

“The logical next step for foreign digital service providers will be to sell their products through local partners, which will at least allow them to charge their local expenses as input tax. That is also good, because it will create jobs for local affiliates,” dagdag pa ni Salceda. 

“The Philippine creatives sector – artists, artisans, producers – are the biggest winners in this law.”

Photo credit: House of Representatives official website