House exec files bills in response to President’s call during Sona

SONA 2023 President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at his second State of the Nation Address on Monday bares his priority bills that he wants Congress to pass. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — House Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon 4th District Rep. Keith Micah Tan responded to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) by filing two measures that the President had asked Congress to pass.

On Tuesday, July 25, a day after the President’s second Sona, Tan filed House Bill (HB) No. 8601, or the proposed “Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act,” and HB No. 8600, or the proposed “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.”

READ: House can pass 10 bills noted in Sona before 2023 ends – Romualdez

Marcos delivered his speech on Monday afternoon, July 24, during a joint session of Congress at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives. Tan was among the over 300 lawmakers in attendance during the Sona.

Through HB No. 8601, the young congressman aims to make local products competitive in the world market. “With this measure, Philippine-made products, goods, and services can be made known to the world as it also seeks to encourage the pursuit of economic development and prosperity, thereby uniting all Filipinos behind Tatak Pinoy enterprises,” he explained.

The bill proposes the formulation of the Tatak Pinoy Strategy (TPS), to be created, funded, and implemented by the Tatak Pinoy Council. The council will be a tripartite partnership between the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Secretaries of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Finance (DOF).

On the other hand, Tan sought through HB No. 8600 the institutionalization of heftier fines against those proven to have smuggled agricultural goods into the country.

The ranking solon noted that under current laws, no one has been punished yet, despite what he described as the rampant smuggling of rice, sugar, onions, carrots, garlic, fish, and pork.

“Isasama na po natin hindi lang ang smuggling kundi ang hoarding, profiteering, at cartel bilang economic sabotage at itataas natin ang kaparusahan upang tuluyan nang masawata ang agricultural smuggling at maprotektahan ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” Tan said.

(Aside from smuggling, we will also include hoarding, profiteering, and engaging in a cartel under the scope of economic sabotage and increase its penalties in a bid to finally get rid of agricultural smuggling and protect our farmers and fisherfolk.)

During his Sona, Marcos requested Congress (House and Senate) to pass a total of 17 measures.