Tax reforms, Bangsamoro law among admin's priority bills

MANILA, Philippines -- Tax measures, the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and bills related to national security are included in the the Duterte administration's list of priority legislation.

 

The executive’s legislative agenda was discussed during a Cabinet meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday.

 

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

 

Also on 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 revenues without burdening the poor. It wants to reduce the income tax rates for individuals and corporations to 25 percent from 32 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

 

Finance officials, meanwhile, expect a proposed levy 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.

 

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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 on Malacañang’s wish list is the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which seeks to implement the peace deal signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014. The measure, which President Rodrigo Duterte pushed for in his State of the Nation Address in July, 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 is seeking the passage of a Whistleblower Protection Act and a measure that will strengthen the Witness Protection Program.

 

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The Labor and Foreign Affairs departments and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas are pushing for a measure creating a separate agency that would look after the welfare of migrant workers.

 

The president will still need to certify priority bills urgent to exempt them from the "three-day rule", which requires bills to be read in plenary three times on three different days. Certifying a bill urgent can significantly speed up the legislative process but does not guarantee passage by Congress, a separate and co-equal branch of government.