Gatchalian Prioritizes Economic Boost and Cost of Living Relief in Senate Agenda

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Win Gatchalian has placed economic relief and recovery at the forefront of the Senate's agenda as the 20th Congress opened its second regular session on Monday, July 27. “Let us build an economy worthy of the strength of our people, one where work provides security, daily needs are within reach, and the fruits of growth are felt in every Filipino home,” Gatchalian said in his opening speech which was accompanied by a visual presentation. “No vision of national progress can take hold while families struggle to meet their basic needs,” he added. To underscore the economic challenges facing the country, Gatchalian presented a slide showing the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s revised 2026 economic growth forecast, which was lowered from 5% to 6% to 3.5% to 4.5%. Among Gatchalian’s top legislative priorities is the proposed ginhawa (relief) bill, which seeks to increase workers’ take-home pay by exempting annual incomes of up to P400,000 from income tax. The measure also proposes raising the tax-free ceiling for bonuses and exempting overtime pay, holiday pay, night shift differential, hazard pay, and service charges from taxation. The Senate will also prioritize amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law which, Gatchalian said, would help ensure that the National Food Authority maintains adequate rice reserves while strengthening support for Filipino farmers. With electricity prices remaining high, Gatchalian said the Senate will push for the passage of the Energy Regulatory Commission strengthening bill, one of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) priority measures. The bill aims to strengthen regulatory oversight, hold industry players accountable, and better protect consumers. Amid continuing tensions in the Middle East and their impact on global oil prices, the Senate will also seek amendments to the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act. Gatchalian said the proposed changes would require greater transparency in the computation of pump prices, allowing the government to determine whether fuel price increases are driven by global market conditions and legitimate costs. Another priority is the proposed Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development, which would establish a 30-year roadmap to coordinate major infrastructure projects, including roads, airports, hospitals, and energy pipelines. Gatchalian said the Senate will also pursue amendments to the Magna Carta for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which seek to improve access to capital and credit, expand shared service facilities, and shorten payment periods. To aid in the swift deliberation and passage of these measures, Gatchalian proposed the creation of a dedicated ad hoc committee that would coordinate legislation aimed at accelerating economic growth, creating jobs, and lowering the cost of living. After his speech, a visibly amused Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri took the podium to move to adjourn session, but before that, he said: “Thank you very much Mr. President. It’s a very nice speech that you made. It’s the first time that I saw a presentation in an opening speech of the Senate. Just goes to show how studious you are, Mr President.” The session opened against the backdrop of a highly divided Senate. Some important measures were stalled because of the chaos in the upper chamber. Only 21 of the 24 senators are present in the plenary during the session, as Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are in jail over separate plunder cases. Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa continues to evade an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with its investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war. During the opening of the session, Alan Peter Cayetano was wearing a black barong as a symbol of protest. His sister Senator Pia Cayetano and Senator Imee Marcos were also wearing black outfits. Several minority senators — Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Loren Legarda, and Robin Padilla — will skip President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) later in the afternoon. There’s no information yet if other members of the minority bloc will attend the SONA. – Rappler.com