22 Oct 2026
Project 7 to 1 Podcast: Dear BIR with Mon Abrea (for the fourth time)
In his fourth appearance on the Project 7 to 1 Podcast, Mon Abrea, the Philippine Tax Whiz, returns for another unfiltered conversation with Carlo Ople—and this time, things get heated.
The discussion kicks off with the BIR’s proposed registration badge for online sellers, businesses, and content creators. Is it a practical way to protect consumers and identify legitimate businesses, or another compliance requirement that could make life more difficult for people who are already trying to follow the rules? Carlo and Mon examine the gap between good intentions and actual implementation, including the confusing procedures, additional costs, and lack of accessible instructions that can discourage people from registering.
From there, the conversation gets into a bigger question: Why does paying taxes have to be so complicated? Mon argues for a simpler, more integrated digital tax system that could make compliance easier, improve the collection of taxes from online transactions, and reduce the need for taxpayers to navigate layers of paperwork. They also discuss international online sellers, withholding taxes, the possibility of a final tax system for certain types of income, and how the government can distinguish deliberate tax evasion from people who simply do not know where to begin.
But taxes are only half the story. What happens to the money after the government collects it?
Carlo and Mon turn their attention to government spending, questioning the heavy reliance on financial assistance programs, the need for sustainable employment opportunities, and concerns over how public funds are allocated. They also get into congressional operating expenses, transparency, and the need for public officials to be held to the same standards of accountability expected of ordinary taxpayers. As the discussion intensifies, the two don’t hold back—and some portions of the conversation had to be censored.
Mon also lays out the policy changes he wants lawmakers to prioritize, including raising the income-tax-free threshold toward ₱1 million, abolishing the travel tax, and pursuing a global minimum tax framework to address the taxation of large multinational companies earning from the Philippine market. He explains why he believes these measures could help ease the financial pressure on Filipinos and make the tax system fairer.
The episode also explores how citizens can participate in policymaking beyond voting: writing to legislators, attending committee hearings, asking questions, and pushing for meaningful public consultation. Mon shares his continuing efforts to engage government officials and his belief that public office should remain accountable to the people it serves.
Four guestings in, the conversation remains as candid and confrontational as ever. From the BIR’s new initiatives to tax reform, government spending, and political accountability, this episode asks a question every Filipino taxpayer should be asking: If the government collects our money in the name of public service, what should we expect in return?
