Manila, Sept. 14 -- Senators on Monday welcomed the Bureau of Internal Revenue's (BIR) removal of value-added tax (VAT) on electricity system loss charges, describing the government move as a relief for consumers while pressing for further cuts in power bills.

Senate Committee on Energy chair Erwin Tulfo announced in plenary that the BIR, under Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza, issued Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 97-2026 removing VAT from the system loss charge.

"Matagal na pong hinihiling ng ating mga consumer ang pagtanggal ng buwis na ito dahil dagdag-pasanin ito sa kanilang electricity bills (Consumers have long sought the removal of this tax because it adds to the burden on their electricity bills)," Tulfo said.

He said the...