Senate tags tax reform, virology institute as among priority bills

As the third regular session of 18th Congress opens on Monday, Senate will prioritize bills on tax reforms as well as the creation of Virology Institute of the Philippines that aims to prepare the country for future pandemics.

In a statement, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said priority bills of the upper chamber include:

• Amendments to the Foreign Investment Acts (FIA),
• Amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA),
• Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE),
• Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act,
• Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) or the Passive Income Tax and Financial Intermediary Tax Act (PIFITA),
• Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP),
• Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing System Act (Agri-Agra) and
• Package 3 of the CTRP or the Valuation Reform Bill.

In the same press statement, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said they will also focus on the passage of Modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Increasing the Statutory Rape Age Act, Military and Uniformed Personnel Insurance Fund Act, Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Act, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Extension Law.

Zubiri said they will also possibly tackle the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or Bayanihan 3, a stimulus package valued at P401 billion. The House of Representatives already approved the measure on third and final reading in June. 

Senator Sonny Angara, chair of Senate finance committee, said "it's the right time to have hearings on Bayanihan 3" as Congress resumes session.

During the session, only limited Senate employees are allowed inside the session hall.

"Like the previous year, visitors and guests will not be allowed inside the Senate premises due to stringent health protocols and regulations. Family members of senators, former senators, government officials and media personalities will also not be allowed inside the gallery hall," the Senate statement indicated. 

After the photo session of legislators, an online press conference with the Senate President will be take place, "including some senators who may wish to attend the said briefing."

Sotto will then lead some senators to House of Representatives for a joint session of Congress to hear President Rodrigo Duterte's last  State of the Nation Address. —LBG, GMA News