Senate eyes approval of budget, TRAIN this week
By Arjay L. Balinbin
THE PROPOSED 2018 national budget as tackled by the Senate is back on track for second and final reading approval on Tuesday, Nov. 28, said the office of Senator Loren B. Legarda, chairperson of the Senate finance committee.
“Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. pa ang (is the schedule for) budget amendment. Expected din na ma-approve na (It is also expected that the 2018 budget will be approved) on 2nd and 3rd reading sa (on) Tuesday,” a communications officer said on Ms. Legarda’s behalf.
The proposed budget is over P3.7 trillion, 12.4% higher than this year’s budget of P3.35 trillion.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon is expected to formally present his proposal on Tuesday realigning the P900 million allotted for the PNP’s anti-illegal drug campaign, including the DILG’s P500 million for its anti illegal drugs, crime and corruption program or the Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya,Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Iligal na Droga (MASA MASID) program.
Meanwhile, the period of amendments on package 1 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion bill (TRAIN) will continue on Monday, Nov. 27.
Last week, Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III said in an interview the next station for TRAIN is its “automatic” approval on second reading.
“Kung matatapos yung (If we finish the) period of amendments, the next step is to approve it (on) second reading automatically,” Mr. Sotto said.
Mr. Sotto also said “[i]t can be approved on third reading (this week) because it is a certified urgent measure.”
Among the amendments the Senate is expected to take up in today’s session are the proposed excise taxes on cosmetic surgeries, fuel products, sugar-sweetened beverages, and Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV’s proposed amendment ensuring the implementation of the unconditional cash transfer program starting January next year.
Mr. Drilon may also present today his proposed amendment which seeks to impose a “20% luxury or vanity tax on procedures which serve no purpose except for aesthetic appeal.”
For amendments to excise tax on sugar sweetened beverages, Mr. Angara said in a radio interview that “perhaps there will be a debate as to how much the tax should be.”
Meanwhile, for fuel, Mr. Angara said: “Sa amin, maintain pa rin yung sked na di tataas ng P1.75 (For us, we will maintain the fuel excise tax schedule which should not go beyond P1.75 in the first year).”
“Yun ang palagay naming kaya ng tao at mga negosyo (This tax is what we think people and businesses can manage),” he added.
