MANILA, Philippines – Pangungunahan ni Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero ang pagbubukas ng Third Regular Session ng 19th Congress sa Lunes, July 22, 2024, bago gawin ni President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang kanyang ikatlong State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Ayon sa pahayag, sinabi ni Escudero, unang pagkakataon na dumalo sa SONA bilang presiding officer ng Mataas na Kapulungan, na sisimulan ng Senado ang pagsasabatas ng ilang priority measures na tutugon sa economic woes ng bansa.
“We will focus on what was agreed upon during the recent LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) meeting under the Common Legislative Agenda,” ayon kay Escudero.
Nakasalang ngayon sa Senado ang 10 panukala na inilista sa LEDAC kabilang dito ang amendments sa Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA); Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) bill; at, Amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act
Aniya, matagal nang dapat kailangan amendahan ang EPIRA Law na magpapabilis sa pambansang pagkilos tungo sa mas sapat na enerhiy ng bansa.
“The CREATE MORE Act, on the other hand, would help improve the current regulations by enhancing the tax and administrative incentives available to companies, and clarifying rules on implementing VAT incentives,” aniya.
Iginiit pa ni Escudero na palalakasin ng amendments sa Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act ang pagbubukas ng ekonomiya sa dayuhang pamuhunan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalawig ng upa sa pribadong lupain (hindi kasama ang lupang agrikultural) sa dayuhan na hindi lalampas sa 75 taon hanggang 99 taon mual sa kasalukuyang 50 taon.
“This will stabilize long term leases with the grant of a certificate of leasehold while allowing leaseholders to collateralize the land,’ ayon kay Escudero.
Bukod sa tatlong panukala, nakatakda din sa listahan ng Common Legislative Agenda ang:
• Reforms to Philippine Capital Markets to facilitate capital raising for Filipino companies through the stock market and boost the value of pension funds invested in the Philippine stock market by reducing taxes on stock transactions and equalizing the dividend tax;
• Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act to strengthen the country’s sovereignty over its archipelagic waters and maritime resources;
• Amendments to the Right-of-Way Act to expedite the implementation of critical infrastructure projects by streamlining the right-of-way acquisition;
• Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics to encourage sustainable consumption and production, and reduce plastic waste generation;
• Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime to enable the nation to better reap the benefits of the Philippines’ rich mineral resources by introducing a straightforward and streamlined fiscal policy;
• Department of Water Resources to institutionalize a primary agency responsible for comprehensive and integrated water resources development and management; and
for comprehensive and integrated water resources development and management; and,
• Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law which aims to enhance and refine the existing legislation governing rice importation and trade.
“We will set aside an extra day, Thursday, to discuss these measures, approve these as far as we can because we only have about 70 days left before this Congress ends. 70 session days absent any typhoons, calamities that might cause us to declare suspension of session or work,” aniya.
“We must also ensure the thorough and transparent conduct of these hearings. All voices must be heard,” dagdag ng senador. Ernie Reyes
