Senators vow to support Rody priority measures

MANILA, Philippines – Senators said they would support legislation pushed by President Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III cited in particular Duterte’s call for rebracketing personal income taxes to make it more equitable.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, who chairs the Senate ways and means committee, said pursuing tax reforms could foster investments and job creation.

“I am 101 percent behind him on this. These should give momentum to the push to reform our tax system. We will prioritize these but we will need the help of the House (of Representatives) since all tax measures must originate from them under our Constitution,” Angara said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian supported Duterte’s plan to help 4Ps beneficiaries graduate from the program while still providing other essential social services to ensure that they would be able to sustain the gains they made while enrolled in the program.

SONA promises

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said Duterte’s SONA promises should find expression in the 2017 national budget “because without funding, they will remain as empty pledges.”

Recto reminded Cabinet members to check whether Duterte’s pronouncements are part of their priorities.

While not all programs the President spelled out in his maiden SONA may require funding, “some must be attached to peso signs,” Recto said.

He cited, as one example, Duterte’s promise to help Filipinos in distress abroad.

Based on the 2016 General Appropriations Act, the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Assistance to Nationals Fund and Legal Assistance Fund is at P400 million and P100 million respectively, while the Department of Labor and Employment has a P50-million Emergency Repatriation Program lodged in the labor secretary’s office to bring home Filipinos caught in difficult circumstances abroad.

Duterte’s pledge to provide rice subsidy to poor families must also be funded, Recto said.

One of Duterte’s flagship programs – the war on illegal drugs – has triggered “this large exodus of drug users to a new life,” he said.

“The President said the government would help addicts reform. There is a national shortage of rehab centers. I hope there will be funding to address this in the 2017 budget. For the campaign against drugs to succeed, it must have a rehabilitative component,” Recto said. – With Evelyn Macairan