THE Philippine government let go of an estimated P6 million in taxes when it agreed to low tax rates on public utilities for American soldiers who will be in the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between Manila and Washington.

A source, who is familiar with EDCA’s drafting until the pact’s signing but is not authorized to speak on the matter, made the disclosure on the day that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) presented its P12-billion proposed budget for 2015 before the House appropriations panel.