Eight VAT charges in electric bill

From PDI email writer PABLO CALICANTO:

I JUST received my billing from Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) for Dec. 15, 2005, and counted eight value-added tax (VAT) billings:

VAT for general charge, VAT for trans charge, VAT for SL charge (whatever that is!), VAT Power Act Rdn, VAT for Dist & Subs (again, whatever that is), VAT Sales, VAT zero rated, VAT Exempt.

Vhat about VAT for farting?

From a 70-year-old retiree getting P2,000 from the Social Security System, enough to pay his Meralco billings and its VATs.

And that folks, is why we have the second most expensive electricity in Asia, behind Japan (o baka naunahan na rin natin ang Japan ngayon dahil sa EVAT na yan ni ARroyo).