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I\o more taxreforms to make it out oflr7.h Congress

By Chamaine A. Tadalan
Repoftet
THE l7tr, CONGRESS will likely
end with enactment of the anti-
terrorism, the secuiity of tenure
and the expanded anti-v/iretap-
ping measures, but without any of
the remaining tax reforms want-
ed by the Executive, Senate lead-
ers signaled on Monday.
Lawmakers reconvened yes-
terday for the remaining session
days ofthe lTth Congress spanning
May 2o-June 7 Any measure that
fails to male it out of Congress
by then will have to start from
scratch in the l8'b Congress that
opens on July22.
'.\p'e will try our best to pass the
anti-terrorism bill the secuity df
tf-r'ure-. Ito tung mga (these will
rd$lre just) finishing touches na
ldrqf anti-rviretapping and pos-
siEly the lowering of the age of
criminal responsibility," Senate
President Vicente C. Sotto III told
reporters follov'ring a caucus with
members ofthe Senate's majority
bloconMonday. :' ! - terrorism acts punishable by
li+
"And then meron kdming mga
iba pa, 'yung ('l}j.ere is also the)
NEDA (National Economic and
Development Autiority) charter
(amendment that will strengthen
the socioeconomic planner), Daft c
kail.ngan maihabol 'yan, (which
!i'e may have to rush) and t}len a
number of local bills , napakarami
(that are so many)."
Senate Bill No. 2204, or the
proposed Alti-Terrorism Act is
designed to amend Republic Act
No. 9372, or the "Human Secu-
rity Act of 2ooz" by redefining
law and easing restrictions for
law enforcers; while SB 1826 , or
the proposed Security of Tenure
and End of Endo Act, will amend
Presidential Decree No. 442, or
the Labor Code of the Philippines,
by expanding the list of baBned
forms of contracting.
SB 1210, or the proposed Ex-
panded Anti-Wire Tapping Act,
will expand coverage of the alti-
wiretapping lav' by lrohibiting
use of electronic and other mod-
ern equipment to listen into or
record private communications.
Reforms, S1/4

nelorms, fective PLLOpard m asabihan ang

fron S1/ I chairman kung lulrsot (so that
These measures await second-
reading approval in the Senate,
while their counterpa*s in the
House of Representatives had
been approved on final reading,
except for the arti-terlorism
which is still iu
committee.
a remaining weeks of the current
Senate Majority Leader Juan
Miguel n Zubiri said senators
planned to question measures
proposed by tlle Department of
Finance, after President Rodrigo
R. Duterte vetoed bills like the one
establishing the Coconut Farmers
and Industry Development Tlust
Fund and the reconstitution of
the Philippine Coconut Author-
ity, due to perceived insufficient
Executive role, among others.
" M qrami tay o ng kas qmahan
na medyo napikon sa na-veto na
kanilang (We have many col-
leagues who were niffed. by the
President's veto of their) mea-
comrnittee chairmen can be told
of the odds that measures will
be signed into law by the Presi-
dent)," Mr Zubiri said.
Senate President Pro Tempore
Ralph c. Recto said he will op-
bill pose any more tax reforms in the
Congress. "My personal Dosition
- wa that all major issues, [will
have to vrait for thel next con-
gress. No midnight session " Sen-
ator Recto said in an interview on
Monday. "I'm against any taxes in
the next nine (session) days."
Sought for coFrqrent, Ftrarce
AssisJant SecretarL Maria Teresa
.S- Habitan said via fixt messaEe
on MoDday,'nve remain hopeful."
Mr. Dutarte his signed into
law Republic Act No. 10963,
which slashed personal income
tax rates and increaserl or added
levies on some goods and sewic-
es, and the RA [213, $'hich gEnts

sures, which were recommended estate tax amnesty and amnesty

by the Finance team. They all on Selinquent accounts that re-
listed to debate and ask questioirs mained unpaid after being given
'final assessment. Other tax re-
on the different Finance mea-
sures," Senator Zubiri said in an forms pelding in the Senate Wa]rs
interview on Monday. and Means committee are bills
Mr. Zubiri said the Senate proposingto reduce corporate in-
hopes for better coordination corhe ta]( and remove redundant
with the Presidential Legisla- fiscal ince4tives; simpliry taxes on
tive Liaison Office to prevent fi nancial instruments; centralize
recurrence of approval of bills real property valuation and as-
that will cinly be vetoed by Mr. sessment; increase government
Duterte eventually. "Umaapila share from mining revenues and
na kaml sa (We are.appealing to) excise taxes imposed on alcohol
Malacafrang, we said that they and tobacco products.
have to come up with a more ef-
\,f,P-or,lT pAg,-€t/