Congress priority: Put economy back on track
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said getting the Philippine economy back on track is the Senate’s most urgent priority as the second regular session of the 20th Congress opened on Monday.
At the House of Representatives, Speaker Faustino Dy III said the lower chamber is prepared to pass more bills aimed to uplift Filipinos, stressing that “challenging times” demand lawmakers to be more proactive in advancing necessary measures. He was referring to bills seeking to make rice cheaper, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act and a measure making state spending more transparent.
At the Senate, Gatchalian urged his colleagues to pass the 2027 budget on time as he pushed for measures that intends to provide comfortable life for Filipinos, including the ginhawa bill.
A priority of the Senate, the proposed bill aims to increase the workers’ take-home pay and provide tax exemptions for bonuses and make tax free for those earning up to P400,000 a year.
“It’s goal is simple: to increase the take-home pay of our workers. Under the proposal, those earning up to P400,000 a year will no longer pay income tax. We will also raise the tax-free ceiling for bonuses. Tax will also be removed from overtime pay, holiday pay, night-shift differential, hazard pay, and service charge,” he said in his opening address.
Gatchalian called the national budget the government’s “most powerful tool” to stimulate the economy and vowed to keep bicameral budget deliberations open, with all related documents made public.
He stressed that their work begins with the economy “because no vision of national progress can take hold while families struggle to meet their basic needs.”
Gatchalian assured the public that Congress will prioritize legislation aimed at reinvigorating the nation’s economy.
“Your Senate is ready to face the challenges of our nation with clear purpose and immediate action. We hear the cries of every Filipino and understand the burden they carry in their daily lives.
Advancing reforms
Meanwhile, Dy said the House would continue working “to advance reforms that directly address the daily problems of our people,” among these concerning food, health and governance,
“As our nation faces many challenges, we must continue working together so we can stand with the people in reaching for a better future,” he said in Filipino.
Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos III said he’s upbeat the legislative mill will resume at normal pace after the Senate stumbled in passing measures.
