MANILA, Philippines — Tollway users can heave a sigh of relief for now as Malacañang said it has no definite plans yet on the imposition of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on toll on expressways despite the Supreme Court (SC) approval to implement it.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday that Malacañang remains open to calls by public transport groups for President Benigno S. Aquino III to study and consider scrapping the plan to impose VAT on toll amid rising prices of oil and prime commodities.

Valte said this despite reports that Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto Henares has said that the BIR will implement the VAT on toll next month.

“I think that is something that has to be considered and studied. The decision was only issued yesterday (Friday) and the (Palace) lawyers are waiting for a copy of the decision. They will have to study the decision first then give the necessary advice to the President,” Valte said in an interview with government radio dzRB.

 “We’ll take a look at all sides and we have to know the parameters that are set in the decision, if any, so we need to see the decision first,” she added.

Imposing the 12-percent VAT on toll would generate P1 billion in of taxes for the government every month, Henares said.

The VAT on toll should have been implemented on August 16, 2010 if not for the TRO that the SC issued then.

But in a decision written by Justice Roberto A. Abad last Friday, the SC upheld the legality of Revenue Memorandum Circular 63-2010 issued by the BIR on July 13, 2010 imposing VAT on all tollway operators in the country.