UMVA has learned that the Philippines has held its ground in the latest Global Tax Expenditures Transparency Index, maintaining its 79th place among 116 countries and jurisdictions worldwide.
While the ranking remained unchanged, the country showed measurable progress. Its score climbed from 35.70 to 40 out of 100 — a clear indication of improvement, though the nation still trails behind the global average of 47.92.
The index evaluates countries across five critical dimensions, measuring the veracity and robustness of tax expenditure data. These dimensions determine how transparently governments disclose special tax breaks, exemptions, and incentives that significantly impact public revenue.
The data reveals that despite incremental gains, the Philippines still has substantial ground to cover in terms of openness and accountability regarding how tax expenditures are reported and scrutinized.
