Tax reform, federalism top Senate’s 2nd regular session

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate will prioritize the Duterte administration’s tax reform bill and its push to shift to a federal system as well as 13 other measures in the second regular session of the 17th Congress, which opens on Monday.

President Duterte will deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the joint session of Congress.

The opening will come two days after the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the proposed extension of martial law in Mindanao, as requested by Duterte.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the chamber was eager to go back to work and address “bigger challenges” facing the country.

“While we may have achieved much in the first regular session, our work is not yet done,” he said.

Topping the list of priority bills the Senate is expected to tackle during this session are the comprehensive tax reform package being pushed by the administration and the proposed shift to a federal form of government.

The chamber is also expected to deliberate on 13 bills endorsed by Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia as chairman of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council executive committee on Monday.

The bills include Unified National Identification System Act; Security of Tenure Bill or “Endo”; the proposed Utilization of the Coconut Levy Fund; National Transport Act to address transport traffic crisis; Budget Reform Act; National Land Use Act; Rightsizing of the National Government; amendments to the Anti-Cybercrime Act, Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, National Irrigation Administration Charter to allow for free irrigation, Public Service Act; Ease of Doing Business Act/Fast Business Permit Act, and amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act.