House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago called for the urgent removal of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on basic necessities, saying the 40th anniversary of EDSA demands action against policies that worsen poverty and inequality.

Elago stressed that Filipino families continue to grapple with high prices of food, electricity, water, transportation, and other essential goods and services, with the 12 percent VAT remaining one of the most regressive taxes.

“Sa ika-40 anibersaryo ng EDSA, malinaw na hindi pa tapos ang laban. Habang tumataas ang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin at serbisyo, nananatili ang 12 percent VAT na pabigat sa mamamayan,” Elago said.

“Hindi makatarungan na ang buwis sa pagkain, kuryente, tubig, at iba pang batayang pangangailangan ay pare-pareho para sa mayaman at mahirap. Sa sistemang ito, mas mabigat ang tama sa mahihirap na pamilya,” she added.

Electricity and water services remain subject to the 12 percent VAT, contributing to higher monthly bills, while transportation and other essential services are similarly affected as businesses pass on VAT-related costs to consumers.

“Habang kinokolekta ang bilyun-bilyong piso mula sa VAT, kapos naman ang pondo para sa serbisyong panlipunan tulad ng edukasyon at kalusugan. Ang tanong: kanino ba talaga nagsisilbi ang ganitong sistema ng pagbubuwis?” she asked.

Gabriela Women’s Party is the principal author of House Bill 4774, or the Presyo Ibaba Bill, which seeks to remove the 12 percent VAT on oil products and other basic goods and services.

“Sa Presyo Ibaba Bill, malinaw ang panawagan: tanggalin ang 12 percent VAT sa mga pangunahing bilihin at serbisyo. Hindi dapat pagkakitaan ng gobyerno ang bawat subo ng pagkain at bawat patak ng kuryente at tubig na kailangan ng mamamayan para mabuhay,” Elago said.

She recalled that economic hardship and rising prices were among the issues that fueled public outrage during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., when worsening poverty and inequality became flashpoints for mass protest.

“Ang EDSA ay paalala na may kapangyarihan ang taumbayan na igiit ang kanilang karapatan,” Elago said. “As we commemorate EDSA at 40, we reaffirm that the struggle for genuine socioeconomic reforms continues. The call is clear: lower prices, scrap the 12 percent VAT on basic necessities, hold corrupt officials accountable, and advance policies that truly serve the Filipino people.”