<\/p>\n
By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, <\/b>Reporter <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on <\/span>Monday asked Congress to pass a package <\/span>of tax measures, including broader income <\/span>tax exemptions for low- and middle-income earners and tax exemptions for micro, small, and medium enterprises, as he laid out his administration\u2019s legislative priorities for the rest of his term.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Mr. Marcos also sought congressional approval of measures updating the country\u2019s tax system, alongside bills that will amend the National Constructing Code, modernize the 25-year-old Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and establish a law to make rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems more accessible to households.<\/p>\n \u201cTo make sure the continued progress of the center class amidst the lingering effects of the crisis, we’ll pursue tax relief measures that promote growth, generate revenue and advance equity toward socioeconomic sustainability,\u201d he said in <\/span>his speech that lasted an hour and 26 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n Mr. Marcos said that the proposed tax reforms aim to guard the purchasing power of Filipinos who <\/span>have felt the brunt of world economic volatility. <\/span><\/p>\n He called for the expansion of the present income tax framework to incorporate more staff within the tax-exempt bracket.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a singular protection for them and so that they can profit more from their hard-earned income, I call on Congress to pass the law that can provide partial relief for our tax payments,\u201d Mr. Marcos said.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, allow us to expand the exemption for income tax. Allow us to increase the variety of staff who might be exempt from taxes on their income. We’ll include those earning not greater than P350,000 per yr,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n This move could be accompanied by reduction within the income tax rates for other staff to make sure a fairer distribution of the tax burden.<\/p>\n He proposed a \u201cone-time tax abatement\u201d for microentrepreneurs to supply relief to those whose earnings have suffered through the recent period of economic hardship.<\/p>\n \u201cSecond, small businesses will now not be subjected to the minimum corporate income tax,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The President pushed for a comprehensive tax amnesty covering unpaid income, estate, donor\u2019s, and value-added taxes, including the waiver of associated penalties.<\/p>\n The fiscal space for these reforms is being carved out through a rigorous anti-corruption campaign, particularly throughout the Department of Public Works and Highways.<\/p>\n AMENDMENTS TO EPIRA SOUGHT \u201cIt isn’t the fault of consumers why there are system losses. So, it isn’t right that customers must pay for this. Subsequently, we, the people, request \u2014 no, we demand for the immediate amendment of the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act), and to ban charging system loss against consumers including the value-added tax thereon,\u201d he said in Filipino, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.<\/p>\n Mr. Marcos also pushed for the passage of the\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSariling Kuryente\u201d Act to make the installation of rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems in homes \u201ceasy, easy, and reasonably priced.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The President said the federal government would proceed directing funds to education, healthcare, food security and infrastructure, citing savings from its campaign against corruption, including irregular flood control projects.<\/p>\n Mr. Marcos reiterated support for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, saying its implementation could be \u201chumane, reasonably priced<\/span> and just.\u201d<\/p>\n He also reaff<\/span>irmed the federal government\u2019s goal of getting electric vehicles (EV) account for half of all vehicles within the country by 2040 while supporting investments across the EV value chain, including vehicle assembly, battery manufacturing and related parts.<\/p>\n He also announced that the 12 stations of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 will open by next yr. \u201cAfter nearly three many years, there might be a brand new MRT line extending to Sacred Heart, Quezon City, from North Avenue. And someday, it would reach all of the method to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Mr. Marcos also touted the planned Pax Silica industrial hub, which he says would \u201cbring quality jobs to our people, speed up our industrial competitiveness and revitalize our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAllow us to proceed the work that we’ve got began, to make the Philippines the country that Filipinos deserve,\u201d the President said.<\/p>\n \u2018CHALLENGE IS EXECUTION\u2019 \u201cThe challenge now could be execution. Businesses are searching for clear implementation timelines, policy consistency, and shut collaboration between government and the private sector. We hope Congress will quickly translate these priorities into laws where needed, while the Executive ensures that programs are implemented ef<\/span>f<\/span>iciently and their advantages are felt by peculiar Filipinos,\u201d <\/span>Mr. Lim said in a Viber message.<\/p>\n Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor on the University of Makati, told BusinessWorld<\/i> that Mr. Marcos\u2019 SONA was ambitious and clearly conscious of the immediate concerns of peculiar Filipinos.<\/p>\n \u201cNevertheless, lots of the commitments were presented as programs fairly than measurable reforms. The foremost test is implementation: clear timelines, funding, accountable agencies and concrete outcomes,\u201d Mr. Tapia said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe speech was also notable for what it avoided: impeachment, political dynasties, human rights, budget insertions and deeper institutional reforms. On this sense, it was strong on assistance and aspiration, but less complete on structural political change,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Federation of Philippine Industries Chairperson Elizabeth H. Lee welcomed the President\u2019s directive to lower power costs, saying it’s \u201cessential to placing Philippine manufacturing on equal footing with our ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) peers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaired with long-term energy security \u2014 through nuclear exploration, natural gas, hydrogen, and renewables \u2014 these reforms can construct true industrial resilience,\u201d she said in a Viber message.<\/p>\n 1000’s of protesters from labor, teachers, youth, urban poor and other sectoral groups marched along Commonwealth Avenue for the people\u2019s SONA, presenting what they described because the country\u2019s \u201ctrue state of the nation\u201d ahead of the President\u2019s speech.<\/p>\n The demonstrators called for higher wages, increased funding for education and social services and greater government accountability, while criticizing the administration over corruption, poverty, militarization and foreign influence. \u2014 with<\/i> Beatriz Marie D. Cruz <\/b>and<\/i> Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress on the House of Representatives in Quezon City, July 27, 2026. \u2014 PHILIPPINE STAR\/NOEL B. PABALATE By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, Reporter PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday asked Congress to pass a package […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":372936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[506,15615,1137,20278,2780],"class_list":["post-372935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-breaks","tag-marcos","tag-pushes","tag-reforms","tag-tax"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
<\/b>Also, Mr. Marcos called on lawmakers to approve a bill removing system loss charges from consumers\u2019 electricity bills, saying <\/span>the measure would complement the administration\u2019s planned tax relief package by lowering electricity costs for households and <\/span>businesses.<\/p>\n
<\/b>Meanwhile, Management Association of the Philippines President Donald Patrick L. Lim said the group is inspired by Mr. Marcos\u2019 strong emphasis on key priorities corresponding to job creation, food security, reasonably priced energy, <\/span>and support for small businesses, amongst others<\/p>\n