9 key priority measures up for Marcos’ signature—Chiz Escudero

Nine of the key priority measures of the administration, including the value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions, are now up for the signing of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Sunday.

Escudero said the Senate approved a total of 106 bills on third reading since he was elected as Senate President on May 20, 2024, of which 26 have been enacted into law. The Senate also acted on the 12 key measures of the administration.

Nine of the key measures are now up for Marcos’ signature, including the VAT on digital transactions, the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE), and the amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law.

Also included are the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program (ARAL) Act, the Magna Carte of Filipino Seafarers, the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Economic Sabotage Act, the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the Enterprise-Based Educaiton and Training Framework Act.

Three of the measures are awaiting action at the bicameral conference committee level, with one up for approval by the House of Representatives.

“We acted with urgency on the priority measures of the President, which were also part of the common legislative agenda of both chambers of Congress,” Escudero said.

“Again, this is more about the quality of laws rather than quantity. These are high impact laws that Malacañang and Congress agreed upon to prioritize,” he added.

Moving forward, Escudero said the Senate is set to pass three to four more priority measures of the administration before exclusively focusing on the proposed P6.532-trillion national budget for 2025.

“There is no time to waste, and we will strive to accomplish even more under my watch,” he said.—Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News