Senate zeroes in on budget, tax reform
THE SENATE may decide to pass some other priority bills as it expects to pass the 2018 Budget and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) on third reading prior to the commencement of the session on Nov. 20, according to Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III.
“[W]e can discuss and pass some other bills, because TRAIN and Budget can be done on third reading by the 24th or latest 29th [of November],” Mr. Sotto said in a text message on Friday, Nov. 10.
The Senate resumes session on Thursday, Nov. 16, ahead of the resumption of congressional sessions.
Mr. Sotto added the “bicameral meeting [will] start right after the passage [of both bills] on third reading.”
Among the priority bills the Senate may pass, according to the office of Senator Sotto, are “military and uniformed personnel pension, school feeding program, magna carta for scientists, electricity virtual one-stop shop, system loss, scientist program, first 1,000 days, occupational safety and hazard, illegal gambling, road board, Philippine Qualifications Framework, Startup enterprises (“Start-ups”), salary standardization 4, estate tax amnesty, and low fare for students.”
BUDGET
It was earlier reported that the Senate is set to carry on with its sessions for budget amendments on Nov. 1617 and its possible passage on Nov. 20-22, while the Tax Reform Bill amendments will be tackled on Nov. 23-24.
Speaking for the Senate committee on finance, Senator Loren B. Legarda expressed confidence that the Budget bill will be passed before Dec. 15.
“Four weeks is still enough for the Senate to finish the deliberations and amendments and approve the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), and for both houses of Congress to convene the bicameral committee conference and approve the bicam report,” Ms. Legarda said in a text message on Friday, Nov. 10. —