No wonder there is much resistant from showbiz denizens to a proposal of Sen. Sonny Angara to impose impose excise taxes “on cosmetic procedures, surgeries and body enhancements undertaken for aesthetic reasons.” The tax being proposed is said to be equivalent to 20 percent of the actual bill for services rendered by the cosmetic surgeon.
No wonder then that cosmetic clinics all over the country feel they are being “singled out” by this onerous bill and consider it an “oppressive tax imposition.” They say there are other industries more deserving to be taxed higher because “cosmetic procedures are not always done for vanity’s sake.”
Flawless, a topnotch beauty clinic, publicly expressed its displeasure by posting on Instagram. “At Flawless, we see beauty as a powerful tool that helps people feel and function better as they go about their everyday lives. Taxing cosmetics and beauty services highly is unjust, unconstitutional, oppressive and discriminatory to hardworking Filipino consumers. As a Filipino brand that believes in bringing out the best in everyone, here’s our Flawless appeal. Give us a break and don’t tax our beauty.”
They say their clientele are ordinary working class people who only want their fair share of opportunities in the world, who resort to cosmetic procedures and treatments because it’s a necessity for them, not a luxury. An example is Engr. Mark Alexis Hubilla, 25, who says: “I have acne-prone skin and they usually leave scars. It has made me really conscious of the way I look. I always save a portion of my earnings for anti-acne procedures and services because I want to look presentable and feel good about myself. But if additional tax would be imposed on these services, I might not be able to afford it anymore. Paano naman kaming mga karaniwang tao lang?”
On the Flawless post on Instagram, a follower commented, “I don’t see the reason why they consider beauty services to be taxed higher. How about gambling? Yun ang talagang luho and it destroys lives and families.”
Oo nga naman. And if they’d push for this bill, kawawa naman ang celebs like Arci Munoz and Kitkat, di ba?
