Ratipikasyon ng P5-T budget at suspensiyon ng buwis sa gas prayoridad ng Kamara

SA PAGBUKAS ng se­syon ng Kamara ngayong araw, Lunes, nakaam­bang iratipika ng mga mambabatas ang pam­bansang budget na umabot sa higit P5-trilyon.

Sinabi ni Speaker Lord Allan Velasco na isang prayoridad ang pag­talakay sa panuka­lang suspendehin ang pagpataw ng excise taxes sa produktong petrolyo.

“Our commitment is to ensure that the budget bill, which is focused on getting the Philippines back on the road towards full recovery from the CoVid-19 crisis, reaches President Duterte’s desk before the yearend,” ani Speaker.

Naunang sinabi ng liderato ng Senado na hindi sila papayag na ma-reenact ang pambansang budget para sa 2022 sa gitna ng pangangam­panya nito.

“We are glad that the Senate is on the same page as the House insofar as the national budget is concerned,” ani Velasco.

Ipinasa ng Kamara sa huli at pangatlong pagbasa ang 2022 General Appropriations Bill noong Setyembre 30 at ipinasa sa Senado noong 25 Oktubre, dalawang araw bago dumating ang Oktubre 27, kung kailan dapat makararinig sa Mataas na Kapulungan.

“As soon as the Senate is done with its own version of the budget, the House will be selecting the contingent to the bicameral conference committee to help reconcile the two versions,” ayon kay Velasco.

“With such assurance from the Senate leadership, we do not see any major stumbling block in having a ratified and enacted 2022 national budget by December.”

Iginiit ni Velasco ang pagtalakay sa excise tax sa produktong petrolyo.

“As we prepare for the wider reopening of businesses, we must ensure that our economic recovery will not be hampered by unwelcome disruptions, such as the unimpeded sharp rise in the cost of fuel,” anang speaker.

“Congress would like to be informed of how fuel prices have shot up so fast in a matter of weeks, so that we can possibly come up with measures that will help mitigate this emerging obstacle towards our recuperation,” dagdag niya.

Nakahanda umano ang Kamara na ipatupad ang health and security prorocols sa pamama­gitan ng online House Pass System.

Sa ganitong sistema bawat departamento ng Kamara ay magkakaroon ng health officer na manga­ngasiwa sa pag­pasok ng mga emple­yado na nagkakaroon ng QR code.

Ang may QR code lamang ang makapa­pasok sa Kamara.

Isasailalim sa antigen test ang lahat ng papasok sa Kamara.

“With the help of our hardworking staff in the Secretariat under the able leadership of our Secretary General, Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza, House members and their respective staff can continue doing legislative work through a more convenient, but by no means less stringent process,” ani  Velasco.

 (GERRY BALDO)