TOPIC: Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law

DIRECTIONS: Identify the STRENGTHS, WEAKNESS, OPPORTUNITIES and THREATS.

In this study, the researchers the perceived effects of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law on poor income class families. Based from the thematic analysis, the researchers -discern three (3) main themes, and ten (10) subthemes which manifest the perceived effects of TRAIN to poor income class families in Davao City. The ten (10) subthemes were classify in the following main themes: four (4) in meeting the basic needs, two (2) in mental health and well-being, and four (4) in family and community support wherein it apparently showed quite a few effects of TRAIN on poor income class families. In the first theme, the poor income families are having a difficulty in affording food for their daily living because of the recent strike on consumer's prices (e.g. rice, fruits, vegetables, fish, sweetened beverages, etc.). To the point that they limit theirselves on buying too many food supplies and food brands so that their money or budget will last longer than their usual livelihood. In which, they limit or skip meals even if they starve or may get skinny because of it, where it seems be very alarming to their health and physical condition. Another thing is having a difficulty in affording utility bills due to inflation in electricity and water. They always reduce in using electricity, most especially during at night which is very inconvenient to their situation because this might cause health problems such as respiratory illness, thus more costly if it got worse because they will more like to send them to the hospital. Also, the poor income class families tend to do informal settling because of the expensive price in renting houses, boarding house, apartments, or dormitories. It is also a burden for the businesses because the people especially the poor will rather spend less money, which also dwells on strict budgeting, because of the high prices and inflation in the country. Due to these difficulties with regards to food, money, and budget, the poor income class families have no choice but to prefer high interest loans (e.g. five-six (5-6), pautang) because it is the easiest way to access and they can easily borrow money from them. Wherein their debt and financial obligation will increase because of the loans they rather have. The second theme talks about the mental health and well-being of a person where it focuses on the factors that affects the poor income class families because of TRAIN. Due to be deficient in money, the poor income class families tend to overthink where to look for money and how are they going to budget it so that it will last, which might be the reason why a poor income class family encounters and experience stress, anxiety, and depression. It is because of their worries and concerns about how are they able to provide food for their survival, and of course, their debts and payments that should be pay off with high interests which could lead into mental health problems. Another point is their hopelessness with regards to the extreme poverty that they are experiencing off. It is very alarming to think that the poor income class people often to skip meals which they could not get the proper nutrition. As you observed, these people are known to be malnutrition and underweight because of lack of food intake. And the third theme, it deals with the effects on their families and community. These effects impacts on social networks where people tend to spend their time looking for money instead of socializing to their friends, family, and community. Moreover, they are also having disinclination with regards of seeking financial help to other people. It is because they know that those people whom they often to ask for help, before, are also experiencing hard time because of this problems and difficulties due to TRAIN. The poor income class families restrict themselves in doing social interactions. Especially, when hanging out with their family in malls and parks, they always put into consideration that if the money that they will spend from going out, and then they do not have something to eat tomorrow or on the next days. And lastly, they tend to diminished ability to engage in fundamental aspects of social interaction because of the increase hike in transportation (e.g. visiting relatives or friends from other places). Based from the prior discussion, the researchers presume that the perceived effects of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law are meeting the basic needs, mental health and well-being, and family and community support. In which concluded that these effects are making the poor the poorest. The researchers would like to recommend the poor income class families to become stronger despite the challenges that they might face, as of these days. Moreover, the poor income class families should be always aware of the social issues in the country so that everybody is responsive whenever there are issues from the government or non-sectors. Whereas, the poor families must work harder to survive, plan all of the things specially the budgeting which is very recommended thing to do. Wherein, they should also know how to differentiate wants and needs. Another is, the researchers would like to recommend the poor income class families to be part of government's programs for poverty and less fortunate citizens for them to be assisted with regards to the financial assistance. The researchers would also like to recommend the poor income class families to be more patient of the current circumstances because it is believed that this law will help the country to become more progressive which aims to eradicate poverty in the future. And lastly, the researchers would like to recommend the government of the Philippines to consider first the lower members of the society specially the poor. And, the government must think what might the effects of this implementation to the poor families in which, they should implement a law whereas the poor families will be able to adjust with the changes.