Philippines 3G phone tax breaks criticized
Tax breaks for third-generation wireless phone service in the Philippines are coming under criticism from the government's finance department.
The 3G networks proposed by Globe Telecom and Smart Communications were granted tax incentives by the Board of Investments; however, the Department of Finance has expressed doubts that the concessions are necessary.
"That is the way of the future and both Smart and Globe will introduce 3G in the Philippines even without the incentives," a department official said in Sunday's Manila Daily Standard.
The newspaper said there was sentiment in the Philippines Senate Ways and Means Committee to scrap the incentive, although there was also a possibility the breaks would be rewritten.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
