Revenue shortfall to affect welfare programs — Solon

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte — The P43-billion revenue shortfall for the first semester this year poses serious threats to the implementation of major economic and social welfare programs for the poor and unemployed.

This was the assessment made by Southern Leyte Rep. Aniceto Saludo Jr. as he cited the equivalent losses in terms of welfare programs for the poor and unemployed sectors resulting from the lowest ever tax take in the post-war period of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

"With still five months of spending to go, the government has practically used up its target budget deficit of P130 billion, having spent P120 billion as of June this year," he said.

Saludo said finance and budget department officials have been reported to be revising budget deficit targets to anywhere from P160 billion to P180 billion.