WATCH: Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo Rivera explains that if poorly timed, abolishing VAT could be inflationary. Particularly, he said that this will undermine the BSP’s easing cycle and tend to be destructive, affecting inflation expectations and even investor sentiment. Watch the video for more details. | Department of Finance

WATCH: What will happen if we abolish VAT? Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo Rivera discusses the risks of abolishing VAT in the country. In an interview, he explained that VAT remains to be one of the most efficient and broad based sources of our revenue. Thus, abolishing it without credible and sufficient replacement could destabilize our fiscal policy and reduce our fiscal space. Among others, this will particularly affect our public education, hea

𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇: Philippine Institute For Development Studies President Dr. Philip Arnold P. Tuaño highlighted that understanding how the economy works and how money moves in our daily lives is not just a personal skill but an essential part of nation-building. When citizens are equipped to make informed financial choices, it strengthens households, communities and the country’s ability to grow and withstand crises. Dr. Tuaño also expressed PIDS’ strong commitment to advancing research and fostering

In his guesting on Radyo Pilipinas on November 4, PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. John Paolo Rivera talked about how active economic diplomacy can attract investments and create jobs, citing the recent expansion of Samsung Electromechanics in Calamba as an example. “Pinapakita nito na ang Pilipinas ay handang umangat sa value chain ng electronics at digital innovation na makakatulong sa atin para ma-diversify pa ang ating merkado ng electronics [at] semiconductors na hindi lamang [para] sa mga m