Senator Sonny Angara. FILE PHOTO
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara took a dig at Malacañang on Thursday for dilly-dallying on a bill that seeks to reduce personal income tax rates.
Angara noted that more than a year has passed since the executive department made pronouncements that it was open to the proposed measure, but until now, no one has acted to ensure its smooth passage in Congress.
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The senator explained that the Senate committee on ways and means, of which he is chair, could not pass the bill until its counter measure from the House of Representatives is transmitted to the upper chamber.
“The moment na certify ng liderato ng bawat Kamara, at especially kung may basbas o konting tulak mula sa Palasyo, tingin ko smooth sailing na ito,” Angara, a member of the majority bloc in the Senate, said at a weekly forum.
(The moment this is certified by the leadership of both chambers of Congress, and especially if it has the blessing or a little push from Malacañang, then I think [the bill’s passage] would be smooth sailing)
“’Yung position na open, I’d just like to point out that as early as March 2014, nagsabi na sila na open sila dyan, so more than one year open na tayo, walang gumagalaw, di ba?” he added.
(The position that they are open, I’d just like to point out that as early as March 2014, they already said that they are open to it, so more than one year [has passed] already but no one has acted on it yet)
Angara said the approval of the bill might compensate for the government’s failure to address the perennial problem on traffic in the metropolis.
“Sana nga kunswelo na lang ito doon sa hindi maresolba ‘yung problema sa trapik e. Sana ito na lang,” he said.
(Hopefully this is compensation for the still unresolved problem on traffic. This, at least, we hope.)
The senator also dared candidates, who have publicly declared their intention to run for either president or vice president in 2016, to make a clear position on the bill.
“This is an issue that resonates to the public, and among the [presidential candidates] and the [vice presidential candidates], ang narinig ko palang so far who have put it in their agenda sina Senator Chiz, and, of all people si Mayor Duterte pa (the only ones I heard so far who have put it in their agenda are Senator Chiz and, of all people, Mayor Duterte),” he said.
Angara was referring to Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who were reportedly gunning for the 2016 vice presidency and presidency, respectively.
“Yes, yes, we issue the challenge to the candidates for 2016 to take a position on this issue of tax reform…it’s something that has to be in the agenda of all candidates for higher office at sana maaga pa lang i-debate na natin… (and hopefully they [declare] early on so that we could debate on it…)”he said.
“Please make your position on this very important issue clear so the public will know whether to support you or not,” the senator added. Maila Ager, INQUIRER.net/CDG