The ratification of the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) measure was delayed on Wednesday after a last-minute impasse between senators and congressmen over taxes on local coal. The impasse emerged after congressmen insisted that the local coal industry be exempted from excise and ad valorem taxes when the Train is implemented next year. ADVERTISEMENTBut senators maintained that the government stands to lose P5 billion if the local coal industry continues to enjoy the excise tax exemption it had been enjoying since 1976, or the past 41 years. Sen. Joel Villanueva even went to the extent of saying that only one company produces 95 percent of local coal and that was the Consunji Group. She said the House contingent said they misunderstood the agreement to mean only imported coal would be taxed and not domestic coal.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 13, 2017 14:03 UTC