WB Urges PH to Widen Tax Base as Spending Needs Grow

WB urges PH to widen tax base as spending needs grow

MANILA, Philippines — The World Bank (WB) urged the Philippines to broaden its tax base, saying stronger revenue collection is essential to meet the growing fiscal demands of an economy that has recently entered the ranks of upper-middle-income countries. Jaffar Al-Rikabi, the World Bank’s senior country economist for the Philippines, said the country’s tax system

PH's 12% VAT yields no more than Thailand's 7%; World Bank urges collection fix

The same implementation problem extends beyond taxes. Philippine business regulations nearly match Singapore’s on paper, but the country trails sharply in public services and day-to-day delivery, says the World Bank.