Legislative wish list: BBL, tax reforms

MANILA, Philippines – Tax measures, the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), and bills related to national security are included in the list of priority legislation of the Duterte administration.

The executive’s legislative agenda was discussed during a Cabinet meeting yesterday at Malacañang.

Bills reducing individual and corporate income tax and imposing taxes on fuel and sugary products are among the priority measures of the administration, a list provided by the Presidential Communications Office showed.

Also in the list is a measure adjusting the sin taxes levied on tobacco and alcohol.

The Duterte administration is proposing to Congress a tax reform package that aims to generate revenue without burdening the poor. It wants to reduce the income tax rates for individuals and corporations from 32 percent and 30 percent, respectively, to 25 percent.

Finance officials expect the bill on sugar-sweetened drinks to generate P35 billion. The agency is also considering raising the excise tax on regular, leaded, unleaded and premium gasoline to P10 per liter from P4.35 per liter.

It is also planning to impose a P6 per liter excise tax on diesel asphalts, bunker fuel oil, denatured alcohol used for motive power, kerosene, LPG and processed gas.

The budget department contributed two bills in the legislative agenda: a measure that will “rightsize” the bureaucracy to remove redundant posts and a budget reform bill.

The budget reform bill aims to ensure transparency in the use of state funds and to define the concept and process of budget impoundment, consistent with Congress’ power of the purse.

Also in Malacañang’s wish list is the BBL, which seeks to implement the peace deal signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014. The measure will create a new Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Duterte administration is also pushing for amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007, the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, and Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 as well as a National Defense Act.

The justice department, meanwhile, is seeking the passage of a Whistleblower Protection Act and a measure that will strengthen the witness protection program.

The labor and foreign affairs department and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas are pushing for a measure creating a separate agency that would look after the welfare of migrant workers.