Stop Taxing Survival: The Government Should Take Less Instead of Pretending to Give More!

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Removing the 12% VAT on Electricity Could Empower More Filipinos Than Any AYUDA Ever Could

 

Imagine a nation where relief doesn't come with red tape.

Where help isn’t dangled like a carrot by politicians waiting for applause, likes, or loyalty.

Where dignity isn’t sacrificed just to claim a few hundred pesos in government aid.

It’s time to ask the uncomfortable but necessary question: What if we stopped pretending that AYUDA (government cash assistance) is the only way to help Filipinos—and started rethinking the system entirely?

Let’s break it down, no gimmicks, no politics—just pure numbers and logic.

The True Cost of Government “Help”

Every year, the government allocates ₱194 billion for AYUDA.

That amount is supposed to help 27 million Filipinos—the most vulnerable, the most in need.

But reality hits hard:

Not everyone receives it.

Distribution is often delayed, poorly managed, or worse—politicized.

Entire communities are left waiting, while others get more than their fair share.

Corruption, inefficiency, and favoritism plague the system.

That’s ₱194 billion spent with no guarantee of real, equitable impact.

Now Consider Your Monthly Power Bill

The Philippines consumes about 110 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually.

At an average of ₱10 per kWh, that translates to a national electricity bill of ₱1.1 trillion.

And then—here comes the punch in the gut:

A 12% VAT slapped on every watt we use.

That’s ₱120 billion collected in taxes—taken not just from the rich, but from every single Filipino who pays a power bill.

Yes, the same 27 million people that AYUDA supposedly targets.

So here’s the million-peso idea:

What if we REMOVE the 12% VAT on electricity instead of handing out selective, flawed AYUDA?

The Power of Letting People Keep Their Money

Removing VAT on electricity would instantly and automatically return ₱120 billion to the pockets of Filipino households.

No paperwork.

No waiting in line.

No political photo-ops or strings attached.

Everyone who pays for electricity—rich, poor, middle-class—gets a fair, equal share of relief.

And unlike AYUDA, which comes once or twice a year (if at all), this benefit is felt every single month, for every family, every business, every barangay.

The Bigger Picture: Economic Justice in Action

This isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a justice issue.

Here’s what removing the VAT on electricity really means:

Long-term affordability for every Filipino.

Boosted productivity for small businesses struggling with overhead costs.

More money circulating in local economies instead of going to government coffers.

Less corruption, because there’s no program to manipulate or mismanage—just straightforward tax reduction.

In fact, the ₱120 billion in VAT relief directly benefits the people who paid it—unlike the ₱194 billion in AYUDA, much of which gets lost in transit.

Let’s Call It What It Is: A Smarter Kind of Help

It’s time to stop acting like AYUDA is the only way to show compassion or provide support.

Real support doesn’t need to be performative.

Real support means making everyday life less expensive, not just handing out seasonal crumbs.

And real leadership means knowing when not to take, rather than pretending to give.

The Bottom Line

Do we continue with a broken system that demands people beg for a share of ₱194 billion?

Or do we choose fairness, dignity, and long-term impact by letting families save ₱120 billion on their electricity bills—no application required?

The answer is simple, bold, and revolutionary.

Stop taxing survival.

Remove the VAT on electricity.

Give power back—literally and figuratively—to the people.

Taxation hinders economic growth and individual prosperity, and that government spending is often ineffective or even harmful. The government should focus on reducing taxes to stimulate the economy and leave more disposable income in the hands of individuals.

Because sometimes, the best kind of ayuda is when the government simply gets out of the way.

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