House to Prioritize 26 Bills Post-SONA

Lawmakers in the Philippines' House of Representatives are set to prioritize the passage or deliberation of 26 pending bills as Congress resumes session following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos stated, "We have so far passed 26 measures, or half of our target, during the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress (2025-2028). We will work on approving the rest in the course of our Second Regular Session." The other half of the target, approximately 26 measures, has already been passed by the House and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence and eventual approval, having been listed in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). The Ilocos Norte representative emphasized that these bills contain structural reforms designed to support President Marcos's programs and "help our people as well." He added, "We will make sure that these bills will redound to the benefit of our people, as it is our duty to improve their plight." Among the priority measures is the proposed amendment to the Universal Health Care Act, intended to benefit Filipinos generally. Lawmakers also aim to streamline the implementation of these laws, ensuring easier access to programs and benefits for the public. Other bills are targeted at specific sectors, such as proposed changes to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act and the Magna Carta for Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises. Pending measures also seek to promote transparency and good governance, including proposed amendments to the Bank Secrecy Law and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. A status report from the House committee on rules, which Marcos heads, shows that among the 26 bills passed by the House is the proposal to reset the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which has since been enacted into law. Amid the high cost of living driven by persistent inflation, the House committee on ways and means will focus on a measure to "recalibrate" the government's personal income tax system, aiming to assist fixed-income earners in coping with soaring commodity prices. Committee chairman Rep. Miro Quimbo noted, "The current personal income tax brackets took effect in 2018. Since then, inflation has significantly eroded purchasing power." He highlighted that for salaried workers earning between P30,000 to P80,000 a month, "nominal income increases are often eaten up by higher living costs." The Marikina lawmaker added that the committee will conduct a comprehensive review of the existing income tax brackets, including raising the tax-exempt threshold and reassessing the treatment of bonuses, allowances, and other mandatory deductions, to align the tax system with current economic realities while maintaining fiscal capacity. "Our task in the next year and a half is to recalibrate the system as a whole – grounded in fairness, efficiency and credibility," Quimbo said. "The forthcoming hearings on personal income taxation will focus on the middle-income segment. They are compliant taxpayers but do not benefit from exemptions nor receive ayuda while bearing a disproportionate share of withholding taxes."