PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. successfully delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The Chief Executive spent 1 hour and 10 minutes outlining his plans for the upcoming months.
“One year ago today, I stood here before you, setting forth the plans that we have to improve our economy, bring jobs to our people, improve the ease of doing business, recalibrate our educational system to adapt to the new economy, lower and rationalize energy costs, boost agricultural production, enhance healthcare, and continue social programs for the poor and the vulnerable,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Republic of the Philippines said.
During his speech, SMNI News highlighted 12 bills that the President personally requested Congress to support. The bills include:
1) Essential tax measures under our Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, such as:
– Excise tax on single-use plastics
– VAT on digital services
– Rationalization of mining fiscal regime
– Motor vehicle user’s charge/road user’s tax
– Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension
2) Amendment of the Fisheries Code;
3) Amendment of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act;
4) Amendment of the Cooperative Code;
5) New Government Procurement Law;
6) New Government Auditing Code;
7) Anti-financial accounts scamming;
8) Tatak-Pinoy Law;
9) The Blue Economy Law;
10) Ease of paying taxes;
11) LGU income classification;
12) The Philippine Immigration Act
– SOURCE: PBBM’S 2023 SONA SPEECH
Before the SONA, Speaker Martin Romualdez identified 9 measures from the President’s 20 priority legislation, approved by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC.
11 were already approved on the 3rd and final reading in the lower chamber.
The President’s bills are well-supported by the 300-plus representatives who stand firmly with the administration.
While the Senate remains committed to prioritizing the quality, not just the number, of approved legislation.
“We will cooperate fully with Congress for the important laws needed for our continuous progress. And once again, I appeal to Congress for its support for the following priority legislation,” President Marcos added.
