1. Interviews in BusinessWorld:
"Economists: Easier tax procedures likely to boost state revenues" (Oct. 1)
by John Victor D. Ordoñez, https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/10/01/548989/economists-easier-tax-procedures-likely-to-boost-state-revenues/
"Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr., founder of think tank Minimal Government Thinkers, said simpler tax requirements would lead to more micro and small companies complying with their tax obligations.
“If tax compliance rules are simpler and penalties are less harsh, more informal sector entrepreneurs will surface as formal businesses and would register as taxpaying entities,” he said in a Viber message. Many of these small companies refused to expand to avoid tax payments, he pointed out."
"PPP reform seen boosting infra dev’t" (Oct. 24)
by John Victor D. Ordonez
https://www.bworldonline.com/economy/2023/10/24/553533/ppp-reform-seen-boosting-infra-devt/
https://ppp.gov.ph/in_the_news/ppp-reform-seen-boosting-infra-devt/
"Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr., founder of the think tank Minimal Government Thinkers, said there is a need to attract more private entities and to approve partnerships more rapidly without sacrificing due diligence."
"PHL pins hopes on ethanol imports to lower gas prices" (Oct. 25)
by Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2023/10/25/553451/phl-pins-hopes-on-ethanol-imports-to-lower-gas-prices/
"Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr, president of Minimal Government Thinkers, said wide use of ethanol and other biofuels could lead to higher food inflation by “reducing the supply of food for people and animal feeds, which are also food for people.”
“Overall, I am not in favor of agricultural crops being used to feed cars and trucks, instead of feeding people and livestock,” he said in a Viber message.
Should the government pursue the blend increase, “the mix should be voluntary, not mandatory.”
“If the voluntary 20% will bring down oil prices compared to the mandatory 10%, maybe good. But it will have an indirect effect on food prices,” Mr. Oplas said."
"Devolution dialogue with NG has stalled, city official says" (Oct. 30)
by Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
https://www.bworldonline.com/economy/2023/10/30/554554/devolution-dialogue-with-ng-has-stalled-city-official-says/
"Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr., president of a research consultancy and of the Minimal Government Thinkers think tank, said that the NG should encourage more competition to better capacitate LGUs.
“Encourage more LGUs competition. Infrastructure competition, peace and order competition, power generation and distribution competition, tax competition, etc. to attract more tourism and investments,” Mr. Oplas said in a Viber message.
“When there is no LGU competition, there is no self reliance. LGUs are dependent on the NG for more funding yearly. If there is competition, it’s up to them, so that national government funding will only complement their local revenue mobilization because they want to do more,” he added.
Mr. Oplas also said the devolution process should be done as early as 2025.
“For me, the problem is that many national agencies, the departments of Health, Education, and Social Welfare and Development, still want more national central planning and implementation of socio-economic projects and do not want their powers and funding to be reduced via devolution,” he said.
2. Radio-tv interview:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=327305166515246
Interview at DZBB about inflation, smuggling, public finance (October 08, 2023).
"4. I support the proposed fuel tax suspension, about P200+ B/year revenue loss but there should also be P200+ B of spending cut, or control tax leakages from smuggling...
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