Most sectors and productive entities agree on the same point about the tax reform: it is necessary and this is the right time to apply it. However, differ in the proposed mechanism, considering it harmful to society and complex for its implementation.
One of the unions that expressed their perception about the document was the National Council of the Private enterprise (Conep), through a post published by its executive vice president, César Dargam, who indicated that they were in the process of studying what was presented by the Minister of Finance, José Manuel -Jochi- Vicente.
Yesterday, the Conep spoke formally, emphasizing that, given the depth of the issue, a “dialogue broad and constructive” around the bill of Tax Modernizationwith which the government seeks to eliminate incentives, increase taxescombat the tax evasion and make other adjustments to increase government income by 122,486 million pesos.
“We recognize the importance of generating additional resources that allow the State to satisfy the demands of the population in terms of services and infrastructure. However, we consider that this process must be supported by opening spaces for active listening and consensus, as a means to identify opportunities for improvement in the project“, indicated the union in a press release.
He Conep reiterated his call to National Congress for the process to continue dialogue initiated by the Ministry of Finance, opening a receptive forum that allows the various sectors of the economy to express their concerns and approaches.
Yesterday, the Chamber of Deputies sent the project of tax reform to the Finance Commission, where it will be analyzed for the preparation of a possible report that leads to its approval or rejection.
Although it was expected that the project be sent to a bicameral commission To speed up its analysis, as requested by the People’s Force bloc, the Lower House decided that the initiative complies with the ordinary procedure like any other project regular.
Opinion of economists
The economists Jaime Aristy shield and Isidoro Santana They agreed that the project of Tax Modernization that the Government presented is considered, detailing that the proposal could have been even more ambitious, because it only seeks to raise approximately 122,000 million additional pesos equivalent to 1.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP), when much more is needed.
“In general, what is known so far seems to me to be very consistent with what was expected. In fact, it is much less than what is needed because the reality is that the Government had to carry out a much more ambitious reform,” he said. Santana, former Minister of Economy, Planning and Development.
He expressed that, despite their political cost, because the tax reforms are unpopular, “it is a great thing that in the end a decision has been made and that it is submitted to Congress. I hope it is approved because the country really needed that.”
Meanwhile, Aristy Escuder assured that the tax reform proposed will mainly impact the wealthiest sectors of society. He stated that this is the first time since the tax reform of 1992, under the mandate of Joaquín Balaguer, that the impact falls significantly on the richest segments. “The rich receive the blow. Let’s make things clear,” he said.
He added that his experience participating in previous tax reforms, such as those of 1992; that of 1996, under the Government of Leonel Fernández, and that of 2000, during the administration of Hipólito Mejía, allows him to ensure that the tax burden of the current reform will be assumed mainly by those with the highest incomes.
He administrative minister of the Presidency, Andrés Bautista García, considered that the Law of Tax Modernization It is necessary despite the political cost that it could currently represent, being one of the reasons that, in his opinion, prevented its announcement and execution in the past.
“Here we have two paths: continue borrowing until we fall into the abyss or make this reform; there is no dictatorial position, but we cannot allow the objective to be distorted, which is precisely to obtain resources to be able to pay,” said Bautista.
Yesterday, a group of people they protested in front of National Congress against him project of law because they believe that it will harm the middle class.
After sending the project to a study commission, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, suggested that the initiative be submitted to public hearings where all citizens can give their opinion on the initiative.
Public hearings are a space that is usually headed by any of the legislative chambers to listen to observations, recommendations and points for improvement on the projects that are studied in the Legislative Branch.
In that sense, the president of the Chamber of Deputies said that Congress must listen to all sectors involved with the tax reform since “the population has all its attention” on the piece.
“I think that the Commission perfectly has the opportunity to listen to them, I believe, in all honesty, that, if it proposes it, and the commission understands it, it can perfectly organize a Public Hearing and listen to the different sectors,” said Pacheco.
If the tax reform is approved in the Chamber of Deputies, it would be sent to the Senate so that it can be studied again in a commission for the same legislative procedures.
