Lawmaker wants tax on gadgets removed

MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City lawmaker yesterday pushed for tax exemption of mobile devices and gadgets to be used by students and teachers for online classes under the blended learning program of the Department of Education.

District 2 Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo specifically urged the government to remove taxes on computers, mobile phones, tablets and other communication devices to be purchased by students and teachers.

“Removing taxes will considerably reduce the cost of these devices and gadgets, and make them affordable to poor learners and teachers,” she said, adding that such devices have customs and tariff duties since they are imported, plus the 12-percent value-added tax.

She said the DepEd has identified the tools students and their teaching personnel will need for distance and hybrid learning.

Castelo added that her heart melted while watching a television report about a Bicol man on the verge of tears offering to exchange his three chickens for used smart mobile phones his two boys could use for their virtual classes.

Good Samaritans sent the man the gadgets his children needed, telling him to keep his chickens.

“This story highlights the need for the government to make distance learning tools affordable to poor schoolchildren, at least during this pandemic,” Castelo said.