Quick Read
- Congressman Leandro Leviste donated 4,000 sacks of rice to Manila to assist with local relief efforts.
- Leviste is currently pushing for legislation to lower VAT on goods and suspend taxes on fuel.
- Executive Secretary Ralph Recto has publicly challenged Leviste to pass the bills through Congress rather than blaming the executive branch for inaction.
MANILA (Azat TV) – Batangas Congressman Leandro Legarda-Leviste arrived at the Manila City Hall on Tuesday to deliver a donation of 4,000 sacks of rice, each weighing 25 kilos, to the city government. The donation, formally received by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, marks a high-profile public appearance for the lawmaker as he simultaneously engages in an escalating political standoff with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto over national tax policy.
Leviste and the Legislative Push for VAT Reform
The donation comes during a period of intense public scrutiny regarding the cost of living, which has become the centerpiece of Leviste’s legislative agenda. The congressman has been actively pushing for the passage of House Bill No. 4302, which seeks to reduce the value-added tax (VAT) on goods, and House Bill No. 8838, which proposes a suspension of VAT on petroleum products. Leviste has publicly accused the executive branch, specifically pointing to Secretary Recto, of obstructing these measures to prevent significant losses in tax revenue.
Recto Responds: ‘Do Your Job’
The conflict reached a breaking point earlier this week when Executive Secretary Recto issued a sharp rebuke to Leviste. In a statement provided to the Inquirer, Recto dismissed the congressman’s accusations, asserting that the executive branch holds no power to block the legislative process. “No one person can block Congress from enacting a law. Stop blaming others and just do your job,” Recto stated. The Executive Secretary emphasized that if Congress truly believes the tax cuts are necessary, lawmakers have the authority to pass the legislation regardless of the administration’s position.
The Stakes of the VAT Debate
The tension highlights a fundamental disagreement over fiscal policy in 2026. Leviste maintains that the administration’s opposition is preventing relief for citizens struggling with inflation, citing a Department of Finance position paper—previously signed by Recto—that warns of the budgetary impact of such tax cuts. While the donation in Manila serves as a visible demonstration of the congressman’s commitment to localized relief, the broader political battle over the 12 percent VAT rate continues to stall in the House of Representatives, with both sides trading blame over the lack of a formal floor vote.
The public confrontation between a legislator and the Executive Secretary underscores the widening divide within the government over how to balance national revenue requirements against the immediate economic pressures facing the Philippine public.