Solons urged: Pass remaining tax reformsa

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has expressed the hope that President Duterte’s call in his 4th State-of-theNation Address (SONA) for the Congress to pass reforms in the corporate tax system along with the remaining packages of the administration’s comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP) would provide lawmakers a strong impetus to pass these investment-friendly and job-generating measures within the year.

Dominguez also urged the Congress to consider the President’s SONA statements against smoking and binge drinking as “a call to action” on passing bills that seek to impose higher taxes on electronic cigarettes and alcoholic drinks primarily as pro-health measures.

In his SONA on Monday, the President severely criticized smokers and recalled how in his home city of Davao, a curfew has been imposed on establishments selling alcohol products to compel them to sell liquor only until a specific time.

“We are hoping that the President’s latest pitch for tax reform in his 4th SONA would serve as a strong impetus for the members of the 18th Congress to act on the remaining