Philippines: Bill plans tax on tech firms to fund COVID-19 fight
A bill has been introduced in the Philippines’ parliament, aiming at taxing big tech firms such as Facebook, Google and Youtube, Netflix and Spotify, to raise funds for the COVID-19 fight.
A worker examines medical face masks in Manila, the Philippines, on May 15 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A bill has been introduced in thePhilippines’ parliament, aiming at taxing big tech firms such as Facebook,Google and Youtube, Netflix and Spotify, to raise funds for the COVID-19 fight.
The bill looks to raise 29 billion PHP (571million USD) by imposing a value added tax on digital services provided in thePhilippines, a key growth area for e-commerce transactions as its people areamong the world's heaviest users of social media.
Congressman Joey Salceda, the bill's principalauthor, said the country spent to fight COVID-19 and it needs more to continuefighting it and recover.
He said starting next year, funds raised fromnew taxes would also be used to finance digital programmes such as a nationalbroadband project and digital learning to fill the education gap caused byschool closures.
However, it may take a while before the proposalis scheduled for debate as lawmakers are busy deliberating on an economicstimulus package to jumpstart the Philippine economy, ravaged bypandemic-induced lockdowns.
Last week, neighbouring Indonesia announcedplans for VAT of 10 percent on digital products from July to boost revenuesamid the pandemic./.
The Philippines’ Bureau of Customs (BOC) is rolling out the electronic tracking of containerised cargo (E-TRACC) system in various ports nationwide next month as part of efforts to automate operations and processes towards enhanced trade facilitation and strengthened border protection.
The Philippines' headline inflation further slowed down to 2.2 percent in April, from 2.5 percent in the previous month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on May 5.
The Philippines’ GDP shrunk 0.2 percent in the first three months of 2020, recording the first contraction since the fourth quarter of 1998, announced the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on May 7.
The Malaysian government has decided to extend the travel and business restrictions for four more weeks until June 9 in the context that the Southeast Asian country gradually reopens its economic activities.
The Philippines announced on May 12 an easing of restrictions on economic activities in its capital city of Manila from May 16 while extending a lockdown on the main island of Luzon to stem the coronavirus outbreak.
In his article, Oscar Sanchez Serra highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s founding of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on June 21, 1925, which marked the birth of Vietnam's revolutionary press rooted in a bold and far-sighted vision.
Several ASEAN meetings are scheduled to take place in Port Dickson this September, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum, and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the urgent implementation of a national policy to crack down on all forms of call centre scams, online fraud, and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
A worker examines medical face masks in Manila, the Philippines, on May 15 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
